AUS – Norton: “Now the main focus is helping this team get through”

VALMIERA (2011 FIBA U19 World Championship) – Australian small forward Mitchell Norton suffered a heart-breaking setback last week when he broke a bone in his foot, ruling him out of the FIBA U19 World Championships. Now that he has had time for the reality to sink in, fiba.com caught up with the young Australian to find out how he can continue to help his team.

FIBA: Obviously this is a terrible injury to suffer so close to the championships. How long are you looking at on the sidelines?

With surgery, I think I am going to get a screw put in the break so hopefully it will help heal it a bit quicker but it should be around three to five months.
 

FIBA: It is the off season in Australia at the moment. Are you hoping to be back by the beginning of next season?

Hopefully, yeh that’s the plan. My next big tournament is the U20 nationals which is in February so I should be right for that tournament.

FIBA: You are fortunate enough to be able to stay on here in Latvia with the team. What can you still bring to the team?

Just some leadership off the bench – helping out jack halberts and stuff off at the point – just seeing some things you know that you might not be able to see on court so just another set of eyes for the boys on the bench.

FIBA: Now that the initial setback has passed – how are you coping, both physically and mentally?

It’s tough to handle. This group has been together for a few years working towards this and for it to be taken away just a few days before the tournament starts is pretty heartbreaking but I am kind of over that now and the pain has gone away now. I am on some stronger pain killers at night so it helps to put me to sleep. Now the main focus is helping this team get through the tournament.

FIBA