- Michelle Jenneke has revealed that she tore her hamstring
- The injury occurred when she fell twice in the women’s hurdles series
- But she fought on and was allowed to participate in the repechage on Thursday
The female hurdler who fell twice during her 100m hurdles race at the Olympics has established herself as one of Australia’s bravest athletes.
Michelle Jenneke experienced a race in the third heat on Wednesday that all athletes dread. After a strong start over the first two hurdles, she crashed with her right leg in the third heat.
She immediately lost her balance after colliding with the hurdle, was thrown forward and landed hard on her left side.
Jenneke quickly got up and attempted the next hurdle, on the track of the runner to her right.
However, a second disaster almost struck when she failed to make the required run-up to the hurdle and knocked it down but was able to stay on her feet and continue the race.
The 31-year-old limped across the finish line, securing a spot in the repechage round on Thursday, but has now announced that she was at the starting blocks with a torn hamstring.
It was no surprise that the Australian finished last again, ending her Olympic career.
But after the race she was in good spirits as usual and stressed that she was pleased to have finished her campaign on her own terms.
Michelle Jenneke has proven why she is still a champion at the Olympic Games
The Australian hurdler had a disastrous heat in the hurdles and fell twice
“To be honest, I’m very proud of myself first of all,” said Jenneke.
‘… I ran today with one less hamstring injury than normal and that was of course quite difficult, but… I said to the doctor: ‘Can I still run?’.
‘I didn’t want my Olympic campaign to end the same way as yesterday. I just wanted to give it my all today.
‘I knew it was probably impossible to make the semi-final and run under 13 seconds without injuring my hamstring, but I wanted to prove to myself and the rest of Australia that I have determination and that I won’t give up easily.
“The general consensus was that it was a complete rupture and that I couldn’t make it worse. As long as I was still running hurdles in a way that didn’t endanger other parts of my body, I was cleared to race.”
She tore her hamstring but still came back to compete on Thursday
Jenneke added that the medical staff has given her the green light to participate in the competition on Thursday.
“Everyone was really happy that I went for a run today,” the two-time Olympian added.
‘It’s the Olympic Games and you do everything you can to be at the starting line.
“We knew it wasn’t going to happen quickly; this time it was about showing what it takes to get back on our feet.”