Elisabeth Seitz will never forget this day! Germany’s best artistic gymnast tears her Achilles tendon during a training jump. It was a shock for the 30-year-old and her sporting dreams were dashed. However, she hasn’t given up on a big goal.
September 4, 2023 will always be remembered by Seitz. “It was a very, very black day for me,” says the gymnast to “RTL” – and still remembers the drama clearly: “When I jumped off, I heard a bang and at the same time had a feeling in my foot as if someone was hitting me hit the back.”
After landing, it was immediately clear to her that the Achilles tendon in her right foot was torn. Seitz admits: “I immediately started crying, whimpering.”
Of course, there is still some residual hope at first, but that too is quickly taken away. “The doctor pressed on the calf and then immediately said: The tendon is through,” remembers the 30-year-old. Bitter tears flow again. Even her boyfriend can hardly comfort her. His support was good, “but of course it didn’t make the situation or injury go away.”
Elisabeth Seitz dreams of the Olympics
Because of the injury, Seitz has to cancel the 2023 World Cup in Antwerp. Even more bitter: she cannot help her team in the Olympic qualification. “Those were pretty much the first thoughts,” admits Seitz. “I wanted to do all four gymnastics apparatuses and wanted to be there 100 percent for the team. But suddenly everything was gone. That was really hard.”
Without Seitz, the German gymnasts miss the ticket to Paris, but as 13th in the preliminary round, the team at least gets a quota starting place in the individual all-around competition. Seitz now wants to get this place. Despite the injury, she has not given up on her dream of the Olympics and is working hard for it. She started strength training just one week after the operation. “I knew that my challenge was different now: not the World Cup, but the Olympics.”
Elisabeth Seitz looks ahead
However, the dark thoughts of the setback do not completely let go of her. The injury even deprives her of sleep. In bed, the gymnast thinks back to the tragic incident “unintentionally often.” “I was in this jump again and again and heard and felt it,” Seitz looks back. “I just hoped it would pass at some point.” However, the condition lasts for weeks.
Fortunately, she has now made peace with her fate. Seitz knows: Thinking about “what if” won’t get you anywhere. She has to look forward. For them, the story that began on September 4th with a pitch-black day is far from over.
Only when she actually stands in Paris can she say that the story ended well after all. “Maybe then I can smile a little during the day.” She would like it!