Back on Track: Victoria Cameron’s rehab journey...

BY ZOE LAM

Contributing Writer

When Victoria Cameron crosses the finish line, there is no hesitation. Just speed, power and the subtle confidence of an athlete who has fought for every stride.

A year ago, Cameron wasn’t sure she’d ever compete again. Today, the local Tarleton standout is not just back to competing, but developing into a nationally ranked track athlete while also excelling on the soccer field as a Division I dual-sport athlete.

Cameron’s journey isn’t just about breaking records; it’s about overcoming adversity.

Growing up in Stephenville, Texas, Cameron never shied away from competition. Whether she was sprinting down the track or flying past defenders on the soccer field, her athleticism was undeniable. From an early age, it was clear that she wasn’t just talented, she was one in a million.

“I could see it in her from the beginning, her work ethic stood out to me and also her will to win,” Tarleton’s track and field head coach, Bobby Carter, said. “At the end of the day, my philosophy has always been to send you off better than when you came and to enjoy what you do. So, win in everything that you do. Tori does just that.”

At Stephenville High School, Cameron racked up an impressive list of accomplishments: multiple district titles, state championship appearances and school records. College scouts took notice early and she soon found herself gaining offers from top programs for her speed. But for Cameron, choosing between soccer and track wasn’t really in the cards.

“I actually didn’t want to do both,” she said. “I was already going to Tarleton for soccer. I was like, ‘I’m not going to run track.’ I hated track. Then a month before school started, I had a meeting with the track coach asking if I could run track, I couldn’t let it go just yet.”

With her sights set on competing at the highest level, Cameron committed to Tarleton State University, a Division I college that gave her the rare opportunity to compete in both sports. Everything seemed to be falling into place.

Then, in an instant, everything changed.

During a conference soccer match in September 2023, Cameron planted her foot and took a hit directly to the knee. Immense pain set in. She crumpled to the ground, clutching her leg, not knowing what was wrong.

“I had no idea,” Cameron said. “I felt it pop, heard it pop even. It was awful. I just kept telling myself, ‘There’s no way.’”

The diagnosis was a torn ACL, a devastating injury for any athlete. But for someone whose entire life revolved around speed, agility and movement, it felt like the ultimate defeat.

For the first time in her life, Cameron was forced to slow down. Surgery was just the beginning. The demanding months of rehab tested her physically, mentally and emotionally.

“It was miserable,” Cameron said. “The first month was the worst. I was so angry and in pain, but I knew it had to be done, I just kept pushing.”

Cameron spent hours in physical therapy, relearning how to move and how to trust her knee again. Some days were hopeful, filled with progress and small victories. Others were brutal, defined by pain and frustration.

“I want to say my first three months were the worst,” Cameron said. “The intensity of the exercises right out of surgery was what challenged my mind and body the most. However, I knew it was only a matter of time. I did end up going back and running in the conference championship meet five months after surgery. Which is nuts looking back at it now.”

Rehab became her new competition. Every inch gained, bending her knee a little farther, walking without crutches, jogging for the first time; it all became a victory. Cameron attacked physical therapy with the same determination that makes her an elite athlete.

Cameron’s support system was crucial. Her coaches reminded her of what she was capable of. Her trainers pushed her to trust the process. Her family and teammates never let her doubt that she would return.

Cameron never lost sight of her goal.

“Tori leads by example. She works so hard that if you are going against her, you want to do the same. Tori sets an example for the team of what it’s like be mentally and physically tough,” soccer teammate Isa Bergeron-Prejean said.

Five months later, Cameron stepped onto the track for the first time since her injury. It wasn’t easy. Her legs felt different, her confidence wavered, but she kept pushing. And then, race by race, she started winning again. The comeback wasn’t just about returning, it was about proving to herself and those around her that she was fully capable of pushing herself to be better than before.

“[Cameron] is just showing everyone that you can come back from anything and she’s still here proving it to this day,” track and field teammate Ca’terrin Cox said.

In her first full season back, Cameron didn’t just regain her speed; she surpassed it. She began clocking times faster than ever before, dominating her events and climbing the national rankings. In the span of a few months, she went from a recovering athlete to one of the fastest sprinters in the world.

“She worked really hard to get back,” coach Carter said. “Also, when I first got here, really sitting down and talking with her about how to fix the little things to do what’s necessary to get better. She was always ready.”

At the same time, Cameron was excelling on the soccer field, proving that her explosiveness and agility had returned just as strong. Balancing two sports at the Division I level is difficult enough, but doing it after a major injury? Unheard of. But for Cameron, there was never another option.

“I don’t know if things will ever go back to normal in my knee,” Cameron said. “But ever since I hit the one-year mark, I learned that this is going to be my new normal from now on and I have to embrace it going forward.”

Life as a dual-sport athlete is relentless. Early mornings, late-night film sessions, endless travel; recovery is crucial and the margin for error is small. But Cameron thrives on the challenge.

“My schedule is crazy,” Cameron said. “When we went to New Mexico, we lifted on a Thursday at 3 a.m. and went straight to the airport so everyone had three hours of sleep. Pretty much was just nonstop of being at a meet and you’ve got to constantly move your body and somehow make time for school.”

Cameron’s soccer training helps her maintain agility and endurance, while track keeps her speed at an elite level. Juggling both sports is tough, but she credits her efforts to her coaches and friends for keeping her on track.

“I just keep looking at scripture,” Cameron said. “I changed my attitude about the injury and now it’s go, go, go.”

With a full season ahead, Cameron isn’t slowing down anytime soon. She has her eyes set on conference titles, national championships and possibly even professional opportunities.

“The one thing I do want to do is try making the finals at nationals for both indoor and outdoor,” Cameron said. “Right now, I’m ranked so high, my coach and I have been talking about the possibility if I continue to improve, I can make indoor worlds and do all that cool stuff.”

Cameron’s story is more than just a comeback, it’s a testament to resilience, to refusing to let setbacks define you. For a small-town athlete who has already overcome the odds, the future is limitless.

“Honestly, I can see Tori running in the Olympics. Even a torn ACL couldn’t stop her from running a time in the 60m that’s second in the world,” former soccer teammate Ashlyn Novotny said.

When she lines up at the starting blocks or steps onto the soccer field, she’s not just competing, she’s proving that champions are made in the moments no one sees.

And she’s just getting started.