Elisabeth Seitz surprisingly withdraws from gymnastics!

Elisabeth Seitz surprisingly withdraws from gymnastics!

Leipzig, Deutschland - Elisabeth Seitz, the most successful German gymnast with 26 national championship titles, has announced her surprising decision today to end her career. This happened during the European Turn European Championships in Leipzig, where she spoke before the Women's all-around final in the sold-out exhibition hall. Seitz, who will be 31 years old this year, also expects young people together with her partner Nils Heyden at the end of the year. Their announcement marks the end of a glamorous career in international gymnastics, which started participating in the World Championships in London in 2009.

Seitz looks back on an impressive list of successes. She took part in a total of 10 world championships and 3 Olympic Games and scored 7 final placements. Her biggest triumph has recently been the title of the uneven barren European champion in 2022. But she prevented health setbacks from participating in the Olympic Games in Paris in 2023 after suffering a severe Achilles tendon tear. This injury led to the German gymnastics team not managed to qualify for the World Championships in Antwerp and that they could not take part in the EM 2024 in Rimini.

challenges and future

The Seitz sporting career was not only characterized by success, but also by challenges. She had to cancel the current European Championship in Leipzig for a shoulder injury, which is another setback. With anticipation for the future, Seitz plans to start your own professional projects in order to remain active in the new phase of life. About her decision to end the career, Seitz said that it was a "journey full of ups and downs" and that she is now entering a new phase of her life.

The pregnancy of Seitz also raises questions about the compatibility of competitive sports and family, a topic that is relevant for many athletes. According to a report from Deutschlandfunk, it is often difficult for pregnant athletes to find support. Athletes such as Fabienne Königstein criticize the lack of infrastructure and the uncertainties regarding sponsorship contracts during pregnancy. The lack of clear maternity protection regulations in Germany, compared to countries such as the USA and Scandinavia, is a persistent problem in German competitive sports.

The challenges that pregnant athletes face are diverse and affect not only financial aspects, but also social acceptance. The German Olympic Sports Association (DOSB) has freshly put the topic on the agenda, although it remains unclear who is responsible for this. Seitz 'resignation is therefore perceived not only as a personal milestone in her life, but also as part of a major discussion about the framework conditions for pregnant athletes.