Gymnast Elisabeth Seitz is facing a tough time: after tearing her Achilles tendon, her Olympic dream is in danger. But giving up is not an option for the European champion.
A loud bang and gymnast Elisabeth Seitz knew something bad had happened. During training, the German record champion pulled one of her legs while doing a double twist element on the ground worst injuries in competitive sports. Diagnosis: Achilles tendon rupture on the right foot. “It was as if someone had hit me in the Achilles tendon. I landed and immediately cried and said my tendon was torn,” explains Seitz in an interview with SWR Sport.
For Elisabeth Seitz, her world collapsed at that moment. “Unfortunately, I still sometimes dream about the moment of the injury. Nightmare is a good description for it,” says Seitz. Instead of the World Cup and Olympic qualification: surgery and months of rehabilitation.
“My journey is not over yet”
The bundle of energy from Heidelberg has accepted the challenge. She has wiped away the tears and is already looking ahead. Despite the break of several months, Seitz is optimistic that she can make it to the Olympics.
A quota place for the German team could make Seitz’s dream of her fourth Olympic Games come true. The biggest challenge will be to be fit again by then. An Achilles tendon tear takes many months to heal completely. For many, an injury like this means the end of their career. Elisabeth Seitz has a clear stance on this: “Absolutely not, I don’t see that at all.”
Social media post on Instagram: Elisabeth Seitz after the operation
Being out of action for such a long time hasn’t really sunk in for Seitz: “It’s hard for me to understand that I won’t be able to pursue my passion for some time. I’ll do everything I can to be back soon.”
Emotional gesture: “Come back stronger Eli”
The last World Cup test for the German gymnasts at the multi-nation comparison in Heidelberg had to take place without Seitz – in her hometown, of all places, she was only able to watch the German team’s victory as a spectator. As did her family, friends and relatives who came into the hall to cheer her on.
What followed at the award ceremony went straight to the heart: the victorious German team wore a “Come back stronger Eli” T-shirt to cheer up the injured Seitz. “At that moment I just cried,” Seitz announced on Instagram.
After Elisabeth Seitz’s injury, the victorious German gymnastics team surprised the European champion in the international competition with an emotional gesture: all gymnasts wore a “Come back stronger Eli” T-shirt to encourage them.
Hard way back
Elisabeth Seitz will soon be 30 years old. An age at which such a serious injury no longer heals as quickly as in youth. Seitz receives support from her family, her boyfriend, her doctors and her sports team: “Everyone supports me, I know that I have a great environment and that life goes on.”
As long as she cannot actively take part in the competition again, Seitz would like to support her team: “I will support you as best I can so that you get the Olympic ticket.” As a spectator, motivator and advisor, she can use all her experience to support the German team. True to the motto “One for all and all for one,” her teammates are eagerly awaiting the European champion’s comeback.
