Olympic Games may come and go, but double fractures last forever. When the world’s best athletes come together to push themselves to the max for their countries, accidents can and do happen. From the runners who helped each other cross the finish lines to serious injuries that will take months of healing time, here are some of the most impactful and memorable injuries from the 2016 Rio Olympics:
1. An Armenian weightlifter dislocated his elbow. During a 77kg “clean and jerk” event, Andranik Karapetyan dislocated his elbow after extending it too far in the wrong direction. It almost broke under the weight of the barbell. He was taken to the hospital directly from the event.
2. A French gymnast suffered a double fracture. At the vaulting qualification event, Samir Aït Saïd broke his leg in two places after missing his landing. Spectators could see his lower left leg dangling at an unnatural angle before paramedics arrived to take him away for medical treatment.
3. Australian and Italian bicyclists suffered broken collar bones in crashes. High speeds and bicycles often lead to serious accidents. Richie Porte from Australia and Vincenzo Nibali from Italy both sustained several injuries after crashing during the road race event.
4. A Dutch bicyclist suffered from a serious concussion and vertebrae factures. Another bicyclist, Annemiek van Vleuten, experienced major injuries when she crashed immediately after a turn during the women’s road race.
5. An American runner injured her knee during the 5000m run. In a show of true sportsmanship, two runners helped each other during the 5000m run. American athlete, Abbey D’Agostino, and Kiwi athlete, Nikki Hamblin, both tumbled during the qualifying round. D’Agostino paused to help Hamblin up so they could both continue.
Later in the race, D’Agostino suffered from a knee injury and fell to the ground, when Hamblin turned back to help her up and to the finish line. Many have praised the women for showing true sportsmanship during the race. Treatment revealed D’Agostino suffered from a complete right ACL tear, a strained MCL, and a meniscus tear during the event.
6. A British field hockey player sustained a strike to the head, and kept playing. Women’s field hockey player, Crista Cullen, was elbowed sharply in the head in a semi-final game
against New Zealand. She exited the field for treatment and then returned to finish the game.
7. A German equestrian groom’s horse trampled him. Robbie Sanderson was painfully trampled in the middle of the victory ceremony.
8. British gymnast, Elissa Downie, fell on her neck during a floor routine. Luckily, the painful looking fall did not result in a performance-stopping injury. She left the floor in a wheelchair, then returned to complete two vaulting events and help her team earn fourth place in the competition.
Staying Safe During Physical Activities
All sports players accept a certain degree of risk when they step out onto the field. Whether performing in a solo competition or a team sports event, accidents happen. Here are some tips non-Olympians can use to reduce the risk of a sports-related injury:
1. Warm up properly. Many injuries arise from trying to over perform with a cold body. Always take some time to warm up and stretch a little before you engage in intense physical activities.
2. Listen to your body. If something feels wrong after a fall or a blow to the head during contact sports, seek medical assistance. Some serious injuries don’t feel excruciating in the moment, but continual activity may worsen the damage.
3. Wear recommended safety equipment. Wearing full football gear during the hot summer may not feel great, but it will protect you from more serious injuries. For professional athletes and nonprofessionals, some injuries cross the line between accepted risk and negligence. If you feel someone else’s carelessness, property hazard, or malicious act caused your injury, you may have grounds for a personal injury claim.
Sources:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/08/11/the-worst- injuries-at- the-2016- rio-summer-olympics.html
http://www.usatf.org/News/Knee-injuries- keep-D- Agostino-from- Olympic-5000m- f.aspx
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/olympics/701431/hockey-star- head-injury