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Local chiropractor heading to Brazil to help American athletes

GREENWOOD, Ind. (WISH) — One Greenwood doctor is just a couple days away from hopping on a plane to Rio de Janeiro.

Dr. Leanne Schlueter is one of the chiropractors chosen to help the USA wrestling team members.

She’s part of a network of chiropractors called Maximized Living who specialize in working with athletes.

She’s been tearing a page off a countdown calendar in her office every day for months.

Friday, it said: “3 days to Rio.”

“It’s getting more real,” she said.

Friday afternoon, the Greenwood chiropractor saw her last patients before the big adventure.

Those like Ruth Abney, who have watched that countdown closely for months.

“It’s just hard to believe that it’s here because I knew when I came today that she won’t be here for a while, and I thought, it is really here now,” Abney said.

Schlueter will be taking a portable adjusting table and working with the American wrestling athletes before and after they compete.

“To make sure that there’s injury prevention, but then afterwards, taking care of the healing process after they sacrifice their body and push themselves,” she said.

She’s been following the games on TV and is looking forward to feeling the excitement in person.

“Really just see the skill set and talent that these people have and to know that we have the opportunity to go along side them to reach whatever their goals may be, is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” she said.

Her patients said they know she’ll make them proud.

“In fact, I was bragging about her last night to a friend, that she’s going to go over there and she’s going to help the Americans win some gold,” Abney said.

Schlueter said she’s also excited to explore Rio and take time to experience the Brazilian culture.

“The whole time out there I feel like it’s going to go so fast, it’s going to be a whirlwind, but that’s why I’m going to document, take videos, pictures,” she said.

She even bought a selfie stick for the occasion.

She’s packed all the critical items, like her passport. But she just realized she has some last minute shopping left to do.

“I realized I don’t have a whole lot of stuff to represent the USA, so I’m going to go out shopping this weekend and grab some really cheesy USA shirts,” she said.

Her plane takes off Monday morning and she’ll be there for the final week of competition.