The star gymnast who dislocated both her knees in a horrific fall has undergone surgery just months before her wedding.
Samantha Cerio was forced to retire from her sport after she fell awkwardly while attempting a handspring double front flip with a blind landing at the Baton Rouge Regional in Louisiana on Friday.
The 22-year-old screamed and grabbed her knees in agony and then collapsed in pain as the crowd watched in shock, and was carried out of the Pete Maravich Assembly Center to a standing ovation.
Here's Samantha performing an amazing routine earlier this year:In a statement, her coach Jeff Graba said the Auburn University senior had surgery on Monday for her injuries, which include multiple torn ligaments in both knees.
Graba wrote on Twitter yesterday, saying: "Senior Samantha Cerio suffered two dislocated knees Friday in Baton Rogue with multiple torn ligaments in both knees. Sam will undergo surgery this afternoon with Dr. James Andrews."
"The Auburn Athletics Department is thankful for the outstanding care that the Auburn and LSU medical staffs have provided to Sam. We are also thankful for the support from the LSU Athletics Department for going above and beyond in this situation. Sam is a fighter and is in great spirits. We couldn't have a better leader for this team."
Caution: the video below contains graphic scenes of injury:The harrowing incident comes just two months before Cerio ties the knot with fiancé Trey Wood in Fairhope, Alabama on June 1.
The senior, who was named SEC co-scholar athlete of the year, will graduate this year with an aerospace engineering degree and after her wedding will head to Seattle to begin working for Boeing.
The devastating accident on Friday ended Cerio's gymnastics career, with the 22-year-old taking to Instagram yesterday to admit that it hadn't ended the way she'd planned, but the sport had made her who she is today.
In an emotional post, she wrote: "Friday night was my final night as a gymnast. After 18 years I am hanging up my grips and leaving the chalk behind. I couldn’t be prouder of the person that gymnastics has made me to become.
"It’s taught me hard work, humility, integrity, and dedication, just to name a few. 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.
"Thank you Auburn family for giving me a home and a chance to continue doing the sport that will always be my first love. I am honored to have had the privilege to represent the navy and orange AU for the past 4 years with my team by my side.
"Thank you for letting me share my passion with you. Thank you for letting me be a part of something bigger than myself. War Eagle Always ??".
