[ad_1]
The Auburn University gymnast, injured in the leg as a result of a belly injury caused by a ground routine, sent a shockwave on social media, and announced his retirement from the sport .
"Friday night was my last night as a gymnast. After 18 years, I hang on and leave the chalk behind me, "Samantha Cerio wrote in a long Instagram post on Sunday.
"I could not be more proud of the person that gymnastics made me become. It taught me hard work, humility, integrity and dedication, to name a few. It has given me challenges and obstacles that I would never have imagined and that have put my personality to the test, "she wrote.
"It may not have finished as planned, but nothing is happening as planned … Thanks to the Auburn family for giving me a home and a chance to continue practicing this sport that will be always my first love, "she added. "War Eagle always."
The 22-year-old was hoping to deliver a perfect performance at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to help the Aubrun Tigers earn a spot in the NCAA finals.
Instead, she landed awkwardly after a free-fall pass and fell when her legs collapsed under her during a so-called blind landing – in what many called the worst injury related to the sport they've ever seen.
Cerio's apparently dislocated both knees and broke his legs, according to the Times-Picayune, which cites sources close to his terrible injuries.
"It was pretty hard to watch," said Jeff Graba, Auburn's gymnastics coach, noting that during all his years of training, he had never seen anything like what happened to the young woman. .
Graba said Cerio, winner of the All-SEC award in 2017 and 2018, had taken over a little too early at the end of his pass.
With broadcasts on both legs, she received a standing ovation as she stepped out of the arena on a stretcher.
Warning: the film is horrible
"It was pretty hard to watch," Graba said. "She is a rider. The last thing she said was, "Go help the girls." The girls gathered around her. They are doing it for her right now. "
He added, "I gave him a hug, told him that I had hugged him before she left and said we were going to meet up tonight."
Her compatriot Abby Milliet gathered her teammates after the initial shock.
"Everyone, I know we want to feel sad for Sam right now, but that's not what she would have wanted," Milliet recalls, "Sam has put everything on this file and she wants us to give it all, this is our new fire. "
The Tigers remained focused and Auburn's overall score, 197.075, was the team's second highest all season – good enough to qualify for Saturday's regional final against LSU, Minnesota and Utah.
"We have overcome some of the adversity," Graba said. "I think we are a very good team. All that has been done, is to prove it.
[ad_2]
Source link