University of Georgia Athletics
Morgann Leleux Looks Past Injuries And Into Future
May 07, 2015 | Track & Field
Be sure to check out who we interviewed in this special Track & Field Invite preview.
May 7, 2015
By Kelly Williams
Athletes like Morgann Leleux thrive on competition.
It pushes them to set high goals, to outperform their opponents and to overcome challenging circumstances.
For Leleux, her passion for pole vaulting was fueled at a young age. Her father, Shane, was a former pole vaulter at Southeastern Louisiana University and her first coach. He has remained one of her biggest supporters since joining Georgia's track and field team.
"I didn't know what to expect when coming to college," Leleux said. "But I felt that track was what kept me focused and in a routine. I'm a very family-oriented person so leaving home was extremely hard for me. But track and school kept me in routine and let me know that I was going to be fine."
Before coming to Georgia, Leleux broke the national high school record her senior year at Catholic High in New Iberia, Louisiana. Since then, she has carried her success into college, earning second place at the 2012 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships as a freshman and three SEC titles (2012, 2013 outdoor, 2014 indoor).
However, her breakout freshman season was followed by an unforeseen eye surgery and stress fracture during her sophomore year. That forced Leleux to press pause on her collegiate competitions.
"The eye surgery with the detached retina was a big surprise because it didn't come from track," Leleux said. "It just popped up. I had just jumped 14 feet, 9 inches (to win the 2013 Razorback Invitational and shoot to No. 2 in the UGA record books) and then two days later, I was in surgery. I had worked all freshman year to jump that height, so I didn't want to be done. I wanted to be out there and go to Nationals."
It wasn't easy for Leleux to ease back into competition. During her recovery, she lost both muscle mass and weight, which made it difficult for Leleux to get back to the level she was at prior to the surgery.
During her junior year, an additional injury extended her recovery process even further. A stress fracture developed on her left foot. Though it was another setback to her career, Leleux eventually discovered the benefits of taking time away from pole vaulting.
"The stress fracture wasn't a good thing," Leleux said. "But it gave me a break for a little while. I had to redshirt at this point. There were no ifs, ands or buts. It gave me a break to decide where I was and helped me get mentally focused again."
Now in the middle of her outdoor track season, Leleux is making strides toward a full recovery. Even with the setbacks, Leleux is ready to look toward the future, knowing that her dream to compete in the Olympics is within reach again.
"This year is slower," Leleux said. "But I think we are making the right progress and the right moves for next year. Next year is the big year. My teammates are all doing well, so I want to do well with them and be a part of that."
Leleux is going into the Georgia Invitational this weekend eager for the opportunity to compete again for herself, her coaches and teammates.
"This meet is a stepping stone for SECs," Leleux said. "I really don't have any expectations, it's more of a practice for me to get back out there and get the adrenaline rushing. I want to get back on the longer poles and get comfortable again."
Leleux and the rest of the Bulldogs will be hosting the Georgia Invitational this Saturday at Forrest "Spec" Towns Track. The first events are scheduled to start at 9 a.m. and Leleux is slated to compete in the women's pole vault at 12:30 p.m.
Kelly Williams is a junior from Atlanta, Ga., majoring in public relations and also pursuing a sports media certificate within the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communications. She is in her first year as a student assistant within the UGA Sports Communications office.
"Coming Attractions" is a weekly feature published on georgiadogs.com spotlighting a UGA student-athlete who will be competing in a key home event during the upcoming weekend. Previous stories include:
August 28 - David Andrews (football vs. Clemson)
September 4 - Carly Hamilton (cross country in Bulldog Invitational)
September 11 - Tirah Leau (volleyball in Benson Hospitality Invitational)
September 18 - Mariel Gutierrez (soccer vs. Vanderbilt)
September 25 - Toby Johnson (football vs. Tennessee)
October 2 - Emma Sonnett (soccer vs. Tennessee)
October 9 - Jared Markham (swimming & diving vs. Alabama)
October 16 - Gaby Smiley (volleyball vs. Kentucky and Tennessee)
October 23 - Bella Hartley (soccer vs. Kentucky)
October 30 - Olivia Ball & Ian Forlini (swimming & diving vs. Florida)
November 6 - Megan Spencer (volleyball vs. Arkansas)
November 13 - Kolton Houston (football vs. Auburn)
November 20 - Yante Maten (men's basketball vs. Troy & FAU)
November 27 - Damian Swann (football vs. Georgia Tech)
December 4 - Marjorie Butler (women's basketball vs. Michigan State)
December 18 - Tiaria Griffin (women's basketball vs. Furman)
December 25 - International Bulldogs (men's basketball vs. Mercer)
January 7 - Maddie Locus (women's swimming & diving vs. Texas)
January 14 - Shacobia Barbee (women's basketball vs. Vanderbilt)
January 21 - Caroline Brinson (women's tennis in ITA Kickoff Weekend)
January 28 - Nathan Pasha (men's tennis vs. UCLA and Southern Cal)
February 4 - Sara Parr (equestrian vs. South Carolina)
February 11 - Cortni Emanuel (softball in Bulldog Invitational)
February 18 - Chelsea Davis (gymnastics vs. Alabama)
February 25 - Hannah King (women's tennis vs. LSU & Texas A&M)
March 4 - Wayne Montgomery (men's tennis vs. Texas A&M & LSU)
March 11 - Mary Beth Box (gymnastics vs. Utah)
March 18 - Kendell Williams and Quintunya Chapman (track & field in Georgia Relays)
March 25 - Sammi Lee (women's golf in the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic)
April 2 - Brandon Stephens (baseball vs. Vanderbilt)
April 9 - Jake Ganus (football G-Day Spring Game)
April 16 - Paige Wilson (softball vs. Florida)
April 23 - Bo Tucker (baseball vs. Florida)
