For Lionel Sanders, the past six weeks have been nothing short of an emotional rollercoaster. The Canadian triathlon star has been battling a persistent, sharp pain in his glute, undergoing multiple medical checks – only to be left without answers. Now, the source of his discomfort has finally been identified: a stress fracture in his sacrum.

The sacrum, a large bone at the base of the spine, plays a crucial role in load-bearing and movement – especially for a high-impact sport like triathlon. For Sanders, the injury has made running virtually impossible. “I started feeling sharp pain deep in my glute and got an MRI – which came back clean”, he recalls. “A CT scan two weeks later also showed nothing. But the pain never really went away, and deep down, I knew something wasn’t right.”

Despite his suspicions, Sanders cautiously continued training, hoping the issue would resolve on its own. However, a recent MRI finally confirmed what earlier scans missed: a clear stress fracture in the sacrum.

Looking back, Sanders admits he wishes the diagnosis had come sooner. “If I could go back, I’d get another MRI around week two. It may have caught the inflammation and validated what my gut was telling me. Hindsight is 20/20. Now I’m looking at more time away from running — but I’m on the right path, and healing is underway.”