- The 24-year-old Chevrier made her second attempt at a height of 4.65 meters
- Instead of propelling herself forward, she crashed into the starting box
- She suffered a fracture of the talus, a bone in the ankle joint
French pole vaulter Margot Chevrier suffered a sickening broken leg during the World Indoor Athletics Championships, leaving a ‘protrusion’.
The 24-year-old medal contender attempted her second height of 4.65 meters at the event in Glasgow.
After takeoff, instead of falling forward, Chevrier fell back into the box where the pole was planted.
She screamed in pain and needed oxygen as medics treated a fracture of the talus, a bone in the ankle joint.
It will leave Chevrier in a race to regain her fitness ahead of the Paris Olympics in July and August.
WARNING – GRAPHIC CONTENT
French pole vaulter Margot Chevrier suffered a terrible leg fracture during the World Indoors
She was competing well in the competition when the freak accident happened on Saturday
Chevrier, 24, was making a second attempt at a height of 4.65 meters when she fell
She required oxygen as medical teams treated her injury at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow
Chevrier was taken to hospital on a stretcher after a 15-minute delay
Coach Grant Brown said Chevrier’s “bone stuck out” after the horror fall, causing the competition to be postponed. The athlete eventually left the arena to the applause of the crowd.
Chevrier said in an Instagram post that she was determined to make it to the Paris Olympics
The French Athletics Federation said: ‘Margot Chevrier is a world finalist for the first time in her career, taking eighth place thanks to a jump of 4.55 metres. Margot Chevrier was seriously injured trying to reach the next bar, placed at 4.65 meters.
‘After falling heavily into the barrier on the first attempt, the pole vaulter suffered an open fracture of the talus, a bone in the ankle joint.
‘She was consciously evacuated from the track on a stretcher.’
Chevrier later posted an Instagram photo of her ankle in a cast, telling fans she will have surgery Sunday morning but vowed to make it to Paris ’24.
When competition resumed, Britain’s Molly Caudery won gold – her first world title success.
The 23-year-old from Cornwall will now be among the favorites to reach the Olympic podium in Paris after clearing 4.80m.
Her New Zealand training partner Eliza McCartney also made the same height, but Caudery won on countback.
Caudery said, “That was a very difficult time. It made things difficult for everyone. Pole Value is such an emotional journey.
Britain’s Molly Caudery celebrates after winning world indoor gold in the pole vault
Caudery will be a leading candidate for at least a podium finish at the Olympic Games in Paris
Caudery (C) with second seed Eliza McCartney (left) and third seed Katie Moon (R)
‘I feel people’s emotions a lot. Margot did her ankle. After her jump I cried to my coach, I felt so bad for her.
‘I had to regroup afterwards and execute my jumps. I am very proud of myself.
‘It was an absolutely crazy match. It’s an indescribable feeling.
‘Especially in front of your own audience, because you know that the whole country is behind you. You share that with them and they are proud of you. It’s the best feeling.’