1 month ago
German heptathlete Sophie Weissenberg was near devastated arsenic her Olympic dreams were dashed aft she suffered an wounded successful nan warm-up up of her hurdles heat.
Weissenberg, classed ninth successful nan world, was group to compete successful nan 2nd power aft nan likes of Team GB stars Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Jade O'Dowda, arsenic good arsenic pre-event favourite Nafissatou Thiam, had tally successful nan first.
But nan 26-year-old picked up an wounded aft clipping a hurdle arsenic she warmed up. She was near crumpled connected nan way earlier medics rushed to nan scene.
Weissenberg was eventually wheeled distant from nan way connected a chair and near incapable to compete.
The incident had initially been missed by nan TV cameras, who trim to nan way and showed Weissenberg look down and successful tears earlier nan heat.
Sophie Weissenberg picked up a bizarre wounded moments earlier her 100m hurdles power astatine nan Paris Olympics
The German heptathlete deed nan crushed successful agony aft picking up nan rumor successful her warm-up
Weissenberg clipped a hurdle arsenic she warmed up earlier appearing to rotation her ankle moments after
Absolute heartbreak for Germany’s Sophie Weissenberg.
The 26 twelvemonth aged deed a hurdle during nan lukewarm up for her first arena successful nan women’s Heptathlon.
Medical unit rushed to nan way and she was taken disconnected successful a wheelchair successful tears. 💔 #Olympics pic.twitter.com/EnmiImUySY
She was instantly consoled by six medics arsenic a replay showed her warming up for her title by jumping complete a number of hurdles.
Footage, however, showed nan German taking retired 1 hurdle and doing her champion to transportation on, earlier stopping and realising that she had done harm to what could person been her ankle.
As she stumbled she besides appeared to rotation her ankle, which resulted successful her falling to nan floor, earlier medics rushed to help.
Speaking connected BBC's commentary, erstwhile British hurdler Colin Jackson said: 'You tin ideate really bitterly disappointed she is. She seemed to person done everything correct and conscionable successful those last moments, you tin suffer you mind a small bit.'
Weissenberg was yet wheeled away, caput successful hands, having besides been consoled by a chap runner earlier her power sewage underway, which was won by Dutch prima Emma Oosterwegel.
She had precocious hopes for nan arena going into nan Games having enjoyed occurrence astatine younker level and going into her first Olympics, which she had revealed her excitement for connected societal media.
The German had expressed her excitement to make her Olympic debut successful Paris connected societal media conscionable hours earlier competing
Medics rushed to nan segment to thief nan 26-year-old, who was besides consoled by a chap runner
She was helped into a chair earlier being wheeled away, pinch nan title starting moments later
She was ruled retired of nan title and apt nan Games, taking a little infinitesimal to bespeak connected what had happened
Just hours earlier taking to nan track, she shared a threat connected Instagram wherever she donned nan German squad colours pinch nan caption: 'Olympic debut tomorrow!'
She whitethorn person to hold different 4 years to make that debut, however, pursuing her injury. It is not yet clear whether she will beryllium capable to compete successful nan remainder of nan heptathlon event.
British favourite Johnson-Thompson was eighth successful nan standings aft nan first arena pursuing her tally successful nan hurdles.
Reigning Olympic champion Thiam sat 16th aft a sub-par capacity successful her run.
