A young gymnast has ended her college career in agony after dislocating both legs during a floor routine for Auburn University.
Key points:
- Samantha Cerio suffered a suspected leg break and knee dislocation in both her legs
- The college gymnast, who graduates in May, immediately announced her retirement in an Instagram post
- The Auburn team rallied around their stricken teammate after the injury
Samantha Cerio was competing for Auburn when the horror injury occurred during an NCAA regional event in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Attempting a handspring double front flip with a blind landing, Cerio landed at an awkward angle and her legs buckled backwards.
She collapsed to the floor and the crowd was stunned into silence as the visibly distraught gymnast grabbed her knees in agony.
She was attended to by paramedics, before being removed from the floor by a stretcher after a long delay.
The extent of Cerio's injury has not been confirmed yet, but it is suspected she broke both her legs as well as dislocating both knees.
In a post on Instagram, Cerio announced her retirement following the awful injury.
She thanked her team for always being by her side and letting her "be a part of something bigger than myself".
"Friday night was my final night as a gymnast. After 18 years I am hanging up my grips and leaving the chalk behind," she said.
"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."
Auburn coach Jeff Graba said the university's team rallied around their teammate after the mishap.
"It was pretty tough to watch," he said.
"The girls rallied around her. They're doing this for her right now."
