The heptathlon kicked off in Paris this morning with the 100m hurdles heats, but German athlete Sophie Weissenberg faced a crushing blow before she could even compete.
During her warm-up, Weissenberg suffered an injury that forced her to withdraw from the first event.
Exciting Competition with Team GB Stars
The event featured some notable athletes, including Team GB’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Jade O’Dowda, alongside the pre-event favorite, Nafissatou Thiam. Johnson-Thompson competed in the first heat, securing second place in her bid for an Olympic medal in her fourth Games since London 2012.
As Weissenberg prepared for her heat, she tragically injured herself, collapsing in pain.
Medics quickly came to her aid, but she was unable to continue and was wheeled away from the track in a wheelchair, visibly distressed.
Heartbreaking Scenes on the Track
TV cameras captured the moment of heartbreak as Weissenberg lay on the track, face down and in tears. Five medics surrounded her as a replay showed her attempting to clear hurdles during her warm-up.
She seemed to misstep, hitting a hurdle and potentially injuring her ankle, which caused her to fall.
The Painful Departure
BBC commentators described the situation, noting how devastating it must have been for Weissenberg, who had prepared so diligently only to face such an unfortunate end. As the heats continued, Dutch athlete Emma Oosterwegel claimed victory in Weissenberg’s absence.
Weissenberg’s departure was marked by a poignant scene of her leaving the track with her head in her hands, underscoring the deep disappointment of what might have been a promising competition.
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