Steingruber suffers from a rupture of the cruciate ligament – a retreat that puts everything in question

The Swiss artist from Eastern Switzerland missed the next European Championship and World Cup with a cruciate ligament tear. (Photo: Karin Hofer / NZZ)

This is the biggest break in an image book career. The injury that Giulia Steingruber suffered Saturday in an international match of artistic gymnastics in Saint-Etienne is even worse than it was feared after the first investigations in progress. Monday confirmed the suspicion of a cruciate ligament tear in the left knee, and it was found that the meniscus is damaged and probably even the tibia. On Tuesday, a second MRI will be taken for a definitive diagnosis, followed by an appointment for a surgical procedure. After the procedure, it will take at least nine months in Steingruber to fully recharge the knee.

The accident when landing from a double stretched back to the ground all questioned. "What the injury means for my career, I do not know yet," said Steingruber in the Communiqué of the Swiss Gymnastics Federation. "Now, I just hope that the operation will go smoothly.After that, I'll need a few days of rest to digest the shock." Steingruber seems to realize that she could lose the Fight for a future successful return.

She faces the toughest test as an athlete.In the mature gymnast of 24, she has to go back again – again.In September 2017, Steingruber competing for the first time since the 2016 Olympic Games. Meanwhile, there was a time out for mental recovery, a first long foot fracture and the death of the big sister in February 2017. Steingruber overcame these moments At the beginning of the rehabilitation period, she formulated a new long-term goal with the Summer Games 2020 in Tokyo.The blues, the feeling of emptiness after the 3rd place of the Olympic final in Rio de Janeiro, the brief and calm thoughts of resignation – all that had evaporated.

After this first break, Steingruber made a furious return. Shortly after the return, the European champion five times won her first World Championship medal. He had to start far to rebuild, he could have been the base of a masterpiece in Tokyo. Now this foundation has suddenly collapsed. That she once again brings up the mental and physical energy to rebuild her is the big question to which she herself has no answer yet.

Steingruber was in good shape shortly before the Glasgow European Championships in early August. At the show, she had a lot of idea, at workout she worked on a jump that was never shown by a woman – not yet for this season, but for the next and the next with the summer games. For the moment, Steingruber will also miss the 2018 European Championship and the 2018 World Cup after the 2017 European Championship. Even the 2019 April European Championship will come too early for them . The next realistic meeting will be the 2019 World Cup in Stuttgart, where the Olympic qualification will take place.

From his debut in 2010 to Rio 2016, Steingruber did not miss any international fight, so he took part in two major events each year. Sport performance continues rare, favored by a very robust physique. The two fractures of the sesamoid in both feet were delicate like the juniors, because this wound always ends the careers of the dancers and can be fatal for an artistic gymnast.

For the moment, it seems that Giulia Steingruber is in the last. A great career cycle has been abandoned by chance.