Sophie Weißenberg is seriously injured just before the start
Bitter Olympic Disappointment for Sophie Weißenberg: The heptathlete injures herself just before the start of the competition and cannot compete for the medals. During her preparation for the first discipline, the 100m hurdles, the athlete from Leverkusen stumbled into an obstacle and fell.
Before the heptathlon at the Olympic Games could even begin, Sophie Weißenberg experienced a bitter tragedy. While warming up for the first discipline, the 26-year-old apparently suffered a severe injury. As she jogged lightly, she tripped over the hurdle, lost her balance, and ended up on the track, writhing in pain and crying uncontrollably. Her shocked teammate Carolin Schäfer, who is scheduled to compete in the next race, is one of the first to reach her side.
What a disaster for the athlete from Leverkusen, who is participating in the Olympics for the first time. All her training efforts were in vain, with no competition time at all. Initial speculation suggests that Weißenberg may have torn her Achilles tendon, which would mean a long period of inactivity. "There's nothing worse in a sportswoman's life," said ARD expert Frank Busemann about the drama. After a few seconds, medical staff rush to the German athlete's side. She is lifted onto a wheelchair and taken out of the stadium, covering her face with her hands and continuing to cry.
The 26-year-old's career has been marked by bitter moments. Despite not qualifying, the German Athletics Federation decided to take her to the 2019 World Championships, but a stubborn infection in her heel forced her to end her season early. Three years later, at the World Championships in Eugene, she had to withdraw from the long jump after three invalid attempts. However, she made a statement the following year, finishing seventh at the European Championships in Budapest with a personal best of 6438 points, just 63 points behind the bronze medal.
At the European Championships in Rome in June, Weißenberg had to withdraw from the heptathlon as a precaution to protect her Olympic dream. She also couldn't finish the competition in Götzis last May after a fall over the hurdles. As a result, Germany is represented by only one athlete in the heptathlon: the former vice-world champion Schäfer, who will give her farewell performance in France. After the Olympics, the 32-year-old from Frankfurt will retire from her career.
Despite her past challenges in athletics, including missing out on competitions due to injuries and infections, Sophie Weißenberg remained hopeful for her Olympic debut. Regrettably, her dream of competing in the Athletics events at the Olympics was dashed once again, as she sustained an injury during her warm-up for the 100m hurdles.
