It is rare to hear about an athlete who has surgery to repair a torn achilles tendon, and then re-ruptures the same achilles tendon while recovering. Many athletes re-rupture several years after the initial rupture, usually while playing their main sport. However, re-rupture rates in the weeks immediately following surgery are extremely low in the general populace, and considering that rich athletes have access to the best surgeons, equipment, doctors and physios, it almost never happens to them.
The Cleveland Cavaliers NBA basketball team has very high expectations thrust upon it this year after the return of Lebron James. The city of Cleveland has not won a professional basketball, baseball or football championship since the 1960s! However, one of the Cavaliers’ key players, Anderson Varejao, just tore his achilles tendon. Varejao is 32 years old, and will probably be out for the rest of the season.
In 2013, Kobe Bryant took 8 months prior to returning to the NBA after his achilles tendon rupture. When Kobe ruptured his achilles tendon in April 2013, he was 35 years old. Shortly after his return to play in December 2013, he had a knee injury and was sidelined for the rest of the 2013-2014 season. Surprisingly, he returned to play for the 2014-2015 at the age of 36, and is thus far having a decent season if you ignore his extremely low field goal percentage.