The adrenaline initially pushes away all pain, Gina Lückenkemper is just happy and proud of her EM triumph over 100 meters. This is even followed by the coup with the squadron. But since then, sprinting has been out of the question. The fall to the finish line destroys more than initially thought.
The jubilant pictures are unforgettable: The Munich Olympic Stadium was completely ecstatic when sprinter Gina Lückenkemper won gold over 100 meters at the European Athletics Championships. She had to curb her jubilation a bit, her leg cut open and bleeding. She received first aid at the stadium and later stitches in the hospital. A gash of flesh was diagnosed and a pile of bruises from impact with the tough tartan. In the final she literally fell to the finish.
The following days little happened, and she also had to skip the lead-up with the relay. But Lückenkemper was back on the track for the final - and was able to celebrate the gold medal again without falling with her teammates Rebekka Haase, Lisa Meyer and Alexandra Burghardt. A double triumph that she had not even dreamed of herself.
But she still feels the consequences to this day. Also because her fall had not only caused the flesh wound and hematoma. In addition, she also suffered a capsule tear in the ankle, she now said in the "Club of the Best 2022" of the German Sports Aid. Because this was only diagnosed later, she put weight on her leg too early. "It's annoying," said Lückenkemper. "Now it's time to put your feet up. The flesh wound was the least of the problems."
The 25-year-old had to do without her start at the ISTAF in Berlin at the beginning of September. She was only there as a spectator. According to her own statement, the injury will not pose a problem for the 25-year-old in preparing for the 2023 season. The double European champion wants to start strength training again in October. Lückenkemper, like around 90 top German athletes, is on vacation at the invitation of Sporthilfe until October 1st at the "Aldiana Club Calabria" in Italy.
