Sophie Weissenberg of Germany suffered a terrible defeat on Thursday while getting ready for her first-ever heptathlon competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
She had a serious injury before her debut at the renowned games could even begin. She needed to be taken off the track in a wheelchair because she was in such agony.
The tragic event happened at Stade de France, where the 26-year-old competitor was scheduled to compete in the 100-meter hurdles second heat, marking her Olympic debut.
Germany’s Sophie Weissenberg suffered a severe injury during warmups for her first heptathlon event at the 2024 Olympics
Image credits: Patrick Smith/Getty Images
She cleared the first hurdle in her warm-ups for her first heptathlon race, but appeared to clip the second one. She managed to regain her feet briefly, but she slowed down significantly before the next obstacle, barely clearing it before toppling over. She grasped her ankle in agony, showing how serious her injury was. The 26-year-old competitor was scheduled to compete in the 100-meter hurdles second heat to make her Olympic debut.
The nine-time world champion in the women’s heptathlon from Germany tore her Achilles tendon. Seven people, including medics, encircled the sobbing woman on the ground before she was eventually wheeled off the track. Photographers caught the distraught athlete with her hands covering her face.
Another commentator remarked, “You can imagine how bitterly disappointed she will be.” “Just when you think you’ve done everything possible to get ready, a small incident occurs during your last minute planning.”
