In a surprising and disheartening development at the Paris Olympics, German heptathlete Sophie Weissenberg was forced to withdraw from the first event of the heptathlon on Thursday morning.
The day began with the heptathlon’s 100m hurdles heats, a crucial part of the competition.
Among the athletes competing were Team GB’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Jade O’Dowda, alongside the highly anticipated Nafissatou Thiam. Johnson-Thompson, who is eyeing her first Olympic medal, finished second in her heat, marking her fourth appearance at the Games since London 2012.
In a distressing turn of events, Weissenberg was preparing for her own heat but suffered a lower body injury during the warm-up.
Witnesses saw her collapse in obvious pain, leading to an immediate response from medical staff.
Medical Emergency on the Track
The scene was heartbreaking as Weissenberg, visibly upset, was attended to by five medics before being wheeled off the track in a wheelchair. The athlete was seen with her head in her hands, clearly devastated by the turn of events.
Footage from the warm-up session revealed her stumbling over a hurdle and injuring her ankle, which led to her fall.
Heartfelt Reactions and Outcome
As Weissenberg was taken away, the track’s atmosphere was heavy with sympathy.
The BBC commentators captured the emotional weight of the moment, noting how disheartened she must have been, given how close she was to competing.
With Weissenberg out of the race, Dutch star Emma Oosterwegel took the win in the heat. It was a tough moment for Weissenberg, and fans could only hope for her swift recovery and future success.