Eleven months after her severe training injury, Anna Seidel is still impaired at the start of the Winter Olympics.
Germany’s best short tracker is also feeling the consequences of her broken tibia and fibula in March 2021 in China. “I haven’t been able to jog since the injury. I think I’m still limping a bit. It’s almost better on the ice than on the land “Said the 23-year-old from Dresden in Beijing.
Since the training accident, she has had a metal plate on both bones that causes pain due to friction, even when training on the bike. “But I’ve gotten used to it and have come to terms with it. Now I can stand it,” she said double European Championship second place in 2021.
She can also joke that the metal detectors don’t go off at security checks. “I was disappointed too. I thought maybe I’d beep,” she said, laughing. Nevertheless: After this season, the plates should be removed. “Then hopefully things will go back to normal.”
“Olympia always has its own rules and laws”
After all, the 23-year-old wants to do her sport pain-free again. Then even the 2026 Winter Games will be an issue again, although she wanted to end her Olympic career after Beijing. “It’s all up in the air. I’m having a lot of fun again. I would definitely like to have another season without pain and that my foot doesn’t hurt every time I’m on the ice.”
Despite the handicap, Anna Seidel is ambitious in her competition. On Wednesday, at the end of the short track competitions, she starts over 1500 meters.
“The Olympics always have their own rules and laws. There were so many falls, so many favorites were thrown out. Everyone is nervous. My goal is to make it to the semifinals in any case. Anything is possible in short track,” emphasized the girlfriend by ice hockey pro Moritz Seider, who missed the Olympics because he has to play with the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL.