She is a German record champion, but now she ends her career: Elisabeth Seitz does not return to the devices. The 31-year-old announced on Thursday at the Turn European Turn in Leipzig.
“I love this sport. I live for this sport,” Elisabeth Seitz once said about gymnastics. Nothing has changed in the love of gymnastics, but the active career is now over. This was announced on Thursday (May 29, 2025) at the European Championships in Leipzig.
Elisabeth Seitz: “It’s time for a new section in life”
“The reasons are that I have been there for so long and have always said that my body decides when it is enough. And that is actually the case now. I will be 32 years old this year and notice that it is no longer so easy and that it is time for a new section in life,” said Seitz In the ARD interview. The 31-year-old also announced what this new section will look like: “I will be mom.”
The German Turner Association (DTB) reacted to Seitz ‘careering within a few minutes: “Thank you for your unique career,” wrote the association in a message.
Seitz small appearance on the big stage
Because of a shoulder injury, Seitz had not been able to start at the DTB Cup in Stuttgart and the home European Championship. Nevertheless, she used the big stage for a last big appearance: “Of course I would have liked to do this, but here I can thank everyone again, I can step in front of the fans again. It is really a great framework. And I am happy that I can use it.”
Social media contribution on Instagram by Seitzeli
First World Cup with 17, 2022 then European champion
Seitz, which once started gymnastics at TG Mannheim, has started for MTV Stuttgart since 2015. At just 17 years old, Seitz was at a World Cup for the first time, won the 2018 World Cup bronze. In three Olympic games, Seitz did it for Germany. In 2022 she became European champion in Munich. Seitz is a role model – for young talent and gymnastics fans. She was awarded the gymnast of the year six times.
And that also because the 31 -year -old athlete overcame mental setbacks and serious injuries. After a Achilles tendon tear, Seitz missed the Olympic Games in Paris last year, but was an ARD expert at the Seine and also celebrated a comeback as a gymnast.
Vote for Self -determination
In addition, Seitz had campaigned for more self-determination in sports, for example for long suits with gymnasts and last year as the first active top gymnast Refurbishment the Allegations of abuse at the bases Stuttgart and Mannheim challenged. “I used to think that was normal. Today I can say: It is not normal. Something has to change to finally create a healthy environment for everyone,” she emphasized.
Seitz himself experienced in Mannheim Abuse of power, humiliation and attacking behavior And made it public in March 2025. Years earlier, she had also reported the incidents to the DTB. “I definitely don’t want any child or some girl to experience something like that,” Seitz emphasized.
Now the German record gymnast withdraws from the devices and the mat.
Prize on Thursday, 29.5.2025 7:45 p.m., SWR Aktuell Baden-Württemberg, SWR BW
