A comeback is always greater than a setback. And Carlos Sainz just became a living example of this. The Spanish F1 driver had recently undergone an appendix removal surgery. But that did not stop Sainz from claiming the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday. The 29-year-old has received praise from various fields of sports for this stunning win. Ex-NBA player and fellow countryman Pau Gasol has also paid his respects to the Ferrari star.

Taking to his official Instagram account, Pau shared an Instagram story featuring Sainz holding the Australian GP trophy. “Hace dos semanas, operado de apendicitis, y hoy ganando una carrera de F1!!! Grande Carlos,” read the caption to the story, which translates to “Two weeks ago, operated on for appendicitis, and today winning an F1 race!!! Great Carlos.”

Notably, this win has marked a significant comeback for the Spaniard after missing the previous race in Saudi Arabia. Carlos’ victory put an end to the Red Bull’s Formula 1 winning streak. It was a dramatic race for Carlos, with Max Verstappen suffering an engine failure early on, allowing Sainz to take the lead and ultimately win the race. It is worth mentioning that this was his first win since the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix. Lando Norris, who finished 3rd, had some jokes as he shared a picture with Sainz after the race.

Notably, the Australian Grand Prix has shuffled the standings in the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship. While Max Verstappen has retained the top spot in the rankings, Sainz has climbed to the number 4 spot with 40 points.

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However, this is not the first time that an athlete has made an unexpected comeback after undergoing a serious health issue. In fact, there are examples of it in the NBA community itself, so Pau Gasol’s words of respect for Sainz are understandable.  

NBA athletes who made a comeback after suffering near-career-ending injuries

One of the most popular names on the list is Larry Bird. The 3x NBA champion had his Achilles snapped during the sixth game of the 1988-89 regular season. Subsequently, Larry had to undergo Achilles surgery and missed the entire season. But the ex-Boston Celtics star made the comeback in the next season itself and averaged 24.3 points, 7.5 assists, and 9.5 rebounds per game in the 1989-1990 season.

Another victim of the Achilles injury was Kevin Durant in the 2019 NBA Finals. KD had to miss the entire 2019-20 season. But the 2x NBA champion made a comeback in the 2020-21 season. Although he played just 35 games, Durant averaged an impressive 26.9 points, 5.6 assists, and 7.1 rebounds per game in the comeback season.

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Paul George is yet another NBA athlete who came back strong after undergoing surgery. The 9x All-Star had suffered a fracture in the tibia and fibula on the right leg ahead of the 2014 FIBA World Cup. In his comeback season of 2015-16, George averaged 23.1 points, 4.1 assists, and 7.0 rebounds per game.

These names and their comeback stories are a testament to the fact that the human will to succeed is far greater than anything life can throw at a person.

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