German gymnastics stars tremble
Dauser faces Olympic drama, Seitz faces tenths of a second elimination
22.06.2024, 20:22
Can Lukas Dauser also hunt for medals at the Olympic Games in Paris? For the German model gymnast, the race for the Olympics has been underway since today. For Elisabeth Seitz, the race may already be over.
Top gymnast Lukas Dauser may have suffered a serious injury just over a month before the Olympic Games, and German record champion Elisabeth Seitz’s dream of participating in the Olympics for the fourth time has probably been shattered. Parallel bars world champion Dauser had to abandon his competition at the last Olympic qualification in Rüsselsheim after injuring a tendon in his left arm.
As the German Gymnastics Association announced, the 31-year-old was taken to Mainz for examinations immediately after the shock. An MRI scan will be carried out there to determine the extent of the injury.
The 30-year-old Seitz had to admit defeat on the uneven bars to her young rival Helen Kevric (16). Kevric scored an excellent 14,800 points, which would have meant third place at the 2023 World Championships. Seitz, who had scored 14,750 points just two weeks earlier, only managed 14,600 in second place this time.
For the third Olympic starting place alongside Pauline Schäfer-Betz and Sarah Voss, the requirement is that the gymnast whose performance is closer to medal level is nominated. The DTB will announce who will be nominated on Sunday. For Kevric, it would be his first Olympic participation. Seitz suffered a torn Achilles tendon in September 2023 and struggled to get back into strong shape.
“Wait and see” at Dauser
It was not clear at the moment whether Dauser’s Olympic start was in danger. “We have to wait and see what the tests show and make the decision based on that. That is of course very bitter for us, but I am assuming for now that he will make it. Nevertheless, you have to have a plan B, of course,” said national coach Valeri Belenki. Dauser, who won silver on parallel bars at the 2021 Summer Games in Tokyo, is one of the favorites on his special apparatus.
Timo Eder (Ludwigsburg) secured victory in the men’s all-around competition on Saturday with 82.675 points ahead of Nils Dunkel (Halle/82.275) and Glenn Trebing (Hannover/81.775).