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This week, Mexican gymnast Natalia Escalera completed an uneven bars performance despite having a ruptured ligament.
Upon completing her routine, Escalera broke down in tears and was carried off the mats by her coach in a move that shocked onlookers.
On Instagram, the 22-year-old shared that she tore the plantar ligament in her left foot during training on Saturday, as well as having an existing calf tear in her left leg. While she was advised by doctors not to compete, she pushed through to fulfill her dream of competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
"At first I made the decision not to participate because of the injury, but something in my heart made me go out to try one more time and on the way to the arena I decided to do bars," she said on TikTok.
"I knew it was a risk, but being on such a big stage is an awesome painkiller. In the end I managed to do my routine. No one forced me to compete, it was my own decision and today I can say that I am an Olympic gymnast."
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