Annika Wendle also did not bring the German wrestling team its first medal in Paris. She was injured early in the small final of the 53-kilogram class. She had to be carried after the fight.
A knee injury painfully slowed down wrestler Annika Wendle in her fight for bronze at the Olympic Games. The 26-year-old lost her small final in the weight class up to 53 kilograms against North Korean Choe Hyo Gyong and came fifth. Wendle tragically missed out on what could be the greatest success of her career.
South Baden woman screams in pain
After just 19 seconds, her opponent had grabbed her by the knee and brought her to the ground. The action was clearly causing Wendle pain; she screamed and pounded on the mat. After a short treatment, she continued to fight – but after less than two minutes of fighting, the North Korean had won. After the defeat, Wendle limped down the stairs from the mat.
“You heard a noise,” said national coach Patrick Loes about the scene in which his protégé may have been seriously injured. Examinations will show how seriously. Wendle and Loes made brief contact after she had gotten back on her feet. “She tried again,” said the coach. But it was futile. After the defeat, the athlete from the retirement home in southern Baden ran the first part of the way to the locker room, then she had to be carried by assistant coach Armen Mkrtchjan.
The German wrestling team remains without a medal in Paris for the time being. However, Sandra Paruszewski still has a chance of winning bronze in the repechage round of the 57-kilogram class on Friday.
Nominated after missing qualification
After two victories, Wendle had no chance in the semifinals on Wednesday against world number one Lucia Yepez from Ecuador. The severe swelling in her left eye was symbolic of the tough battles she had to fight at these games. In the bronze medal match, she suffered even worse.
Wendle had originally missed the qualification for Paris. After the Russian Federation withdrew its wrestlers, she was nominated. After winning bronze at the European Championships in 2020 and 2021, she was now hoping for a place on the podium at the Olympics, but narrowly missed it.
Source: Stern
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