The gymnast who broke both of her legs in a horrifying fall has spoken out after her student career cut short, saying she "couldn't be prouder" of her achievements.
Samantha Cerio broke both of her legs and dislocated both her knees in a sickening injury caught on camera while representing Auburn University in Alabama. Now, she has said goodbye to her gymnastics career in a heartfelt Instagram post following her injury.
Here's Samantha Cerio, competing against LSU and performing beautifully:g
The gymnastics event was put on hold for several minutes as paramedics placed air casts around the gymnast's legs and stretchered her away to a standing ovation, but following the incident, Cerio posted to Instagram to confirm that with her graduation next month and a job at Boeing already secure, that was to be her final gynmastics event.
"Friday night was my final night as a gymnast," she began in her post, adding that while things didn't end the way she'd initially planned, she "couldn't be prouder" of the gymnast and person she had become.
"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."
Cerio also paid tribute to Auburn University, where she had been part of the gymnastics team for the past four years, saying that she was "honored" to have represented the university.
"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."
Despite the trauma of losing Cerio in such difficult fashion, her team rallied to finish strongly, earning second place overall in the meet, earning them a place in the final the next day. Unfortunately, they finished fourth in the final, meaning that Auburn University's season is now over.
