16-year-old German gymnastics talent dies unexpectedly
Mia Sophie Lietke rose to the top of German rhythmic gymnastics in Berlin and then moved to a national base in Baden-Württemberg. There, the young gymnast died unexpectedly at the age of 16. The grief is immense.
The 16-year-old junior gymnast Mia Sophie Lietke has died "very suddenly and unexpectedly". This was announced by the Swabian Gymnastics Federation. Lietke trained near Stuttgart at the national base in Fellbach-Schmiden, according to the German Gymnastics Federation she died there. According to media reports, the cause of death is not yet known. According to SWR, an investigation is currently underway, but no autopsy results have yet been released. The DTB did not provide any information on the circumstances when asked.
"Our deepest sympathy goes out to Mia's family in these difficult hours, to whom we wish all the strength in the world to deal with this sad event," writes the DTB on its website, "especially in the national team center of rhythmic gymnastics in Fellbach-Schmiden with her teammates as well as with the coaches and supervisors and also in Berlin and Ulm, where Mia lived and trained." Mia Sophie Lietke was "very popular and appreciated by everyone due to her open and honest character" and her goal was to qualify for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. "The dismay and sympathy in the gymnastics family is correspondingly great."
In June 2021, Lietke was named junior athlete of the month in Berlin, in 2022 she became German junior champion on the hoop and won silver in the all-around. She trained at the national base in the capital for several years before moving to Fellbach-Schmiden in Baden-Württemberg in early 2023. Despite the move, she continued to compete for the Berlin TSC. In July 2023, according to the DTB, she "made the leap into the German Gymnastics Federation's perspective squad". She had started rhythmic gymnastics as a six-year-old at TSG Söflingen, a local club in Ulm.
Great sadness and dismay
Magdalena Brzeska, herself a 26-time German champion and 1996 Olympic participant in Atlanta, was shocked by the news. "She was one of my first gymnasts when I came to Ulm," the 45-year-old told BZ: "Her goal was the Olympics, she did everything she could for it. I'm sure she would have achieved that too. I can't imagine what the family is going through now. It's a terrible story."
One of her training colleagues in Fellbach-Schmiden was Darja Varfolomeev, who was the first second female athlete to win five gold medals at the World Championships in August. "You will always remain in our hearts," the 17-year-old wrote in her Instagram story accompanying a photo of Lietke: "As a very great girl."
Lietke's club, the Berlin TSC, with whose team she competed in the national league, shared its dismay in a message on its website. "We will miss her determined, friendly nature and her presence on and off the RSG carpet. At the same time, she is a memento and memory that will forever have a permanent place with us. Our deepest sympathies go out to Mia's family, friends and loved ones."
Source: www.ntv.de
