Weißenberg is seriously injured just before the first Olympics start
Bitter Olympic Disappointment for Sophie Weißenberg: The heptathlete injures herself just before the start of the competition and is unable to compete for placements. During her preparation for the first discipline, the 100m hurdles, the 26-year-old from Leverkusen severely injured her Achilles tendon. While warming up, she tripped over a hurdle, stumbled, and fell onto the track, writhing in pain and crying uncontrollably. Her shocked teammate Carolin Schäfer, who was due to compete in the next race, was one of the first to reach her.
Sophie Weißenberg's Olympic dream turned into a nightmare before the heptathlon even began. All her training efforts were in vain, with no competition time at all. She had torn her Achilles tendon in her right foot and was unable to compete for medals. "There's nothing worse for a female athlete," said ARD expert Frank Busemann. Medical staff rushed to her side, and she was carried out of the stadium in a wheelchair, her face in her hands, still crying.
"We are very, very sad. This is extremely tragic for us because she would have been right up there," said DLV sports director Jörg Bügner. The athlete will return to Germany on Thursday to see a doctor, accompanied by national coach Jörg Roos, so she won't have to go through this "bitter moment alone," Bügner said.
Weißenberg's career has been marked by bitter moments. Despite not meeting the qualification standard, the German Athletics Association took her to the 2019 World Championships, but she had to end her season early due to a persistent inflammation in her heel. Three years later, at the World Championships in Eugene, she had to retire after three invalid attempts in the long jump. A year later, she set a personal best of 6438 points to finish seventh at the European Championships in Budapest, 63 points behind the bronze medal.
At the European Championships in Rome in June, Weißenberg had to withdraw as a precaution to protect her Olympic dream. She also couldn't finish the competition in Götzis last May after a stumble over the hurdles. Germany is now represented by only one athlete in the heptathlon: Carolin Schäfer, the former vice-world champion, who will retire from competition after the Olympics.
Despite her setbacks and close calls, Sophie Weißenberg was determined to compete in the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris. However, her dreams were once again shattered when she injured her Achilles tendon before the competition, preventing her from participating.
Although Weißenberg won't be able to participate in the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris due to her injury, her resilience and determination in the face of adversity continue to inspire her team and fans alike.
