'Worst injury I've ever seen': Gymnast breaks both legs in horrific accident

Sports Editor

Sun, 7 Apr 2019, 5:23 pm

WARNING: The following article contains graphic images that some readers may find confronting.

The gymnastics world has been rocked by a sickening moment that saw a young star break both of her legs.

Samantha Cerio was competing for Auburn University in an NCAA regional event on Saturday when the horrific mishap occurred.

Cerio was attempting a handspring double front with a blind landing when she came down at an odd angle and her legs buckled gruesomely.

She immediately grabbed her knees and cried out in pain as paramedics rushed to her aid.

Samantha Cerio suffered horrific injuries. Image: NCAA

After a lengthy delay, she was taken from the arena on a stretcher.

“It was pretty tough to watch,” Auburn coach Jeff Graba said.

“She’s a trooper. The last thing she said was, ‘Go help the girls.’

“The girls rallied around her. They’re doing this for her right now.”

Cerio was taken to hospital. Image: NCAA

Cerio later took to social media with the devastating news that she’s retiring from gymnastics.

View this post on Instagram

Friday night was my final night as a gymnast. After 18 years I am hanging up my grips and leaving the chalk behind. I couldn’t be prouder of the person that gymnastics has made me to become. It’s taught me hard work, humility, integrity, and dedication, just to name a few. It’s given me challenges and road blocks that I would have never imagined that has tested who I am as a person. It may not have ended the way I had planned, but nothing ever goes as planned. Thank you Auburn family for giving me a home and a chance to continue doing the sport that will always be my first love. I am honored to have had the privilege to represent the navy and orange AU for the past 4 years with my team by my side. Thank you for letting me share my passion with you. Thank you for letting me be a part of something bigger than myself. War Eagle Always 💙🧡
A post shared by Sam Cerio (@sam_cerio) on Apr 7, 2019 at 10:30am PDT

The extent of Cerio’s injuries have not been confirmed, but Nola.com is reporting she dislocated both of her knees and broke both legs.

Nola.com reporter Amie Just described it as the worst injury she’d ever seen.

We've been told that Auburn's Samantha Cerio broke both her legs on that pass on floor. Worst injury I've ever seen.
— Amie Just (@Amie_Just) April 6, 2019

Cerio’s teammates rallied around her after the injury, starting the hashtag “#StickItForSam” before the final on Sunday.

Auburn finished the event fourth, but their main concern was Cerio.

Samantha Cerio in 2017. (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

“We wanted more than anything to do this for her,” Garba said.

“I think we were out of gas, emotionally spent.

“But I thought the girls fought hard. They did a great job.”