German gymnast Ronny Ziesmer seriously injured

The press conference in Berlin was lead by Prof. Dr. Walter Shaffartzik from the hospital in Berlin. The German Gymnastics Federation was represented by president Rainer Brechtken, sports director Wolfgang Willam and head coach Andreas Hirsch.

The accident happened while training a Tsukahara on vault, the rotation of the double summersault backwards unfortunately wasn’t finished completely and he landed with the head/neck area on the mat. Ronny Ziesmer has fractures in the 5th & 6th cervical vertebras which also led to a movement and destruction of the area between the vertebras and an injury of the spinal cord.

Right after the accident his arms and legs were paralyzed. He was rushed to hospital by helicopter and immediately underwent surgery. Thanks to the quick surgery an artificial respiration could be avoided up to now. However, according to the head of department in the hospital Dr. Stephan Becker it is likely that the paralysis in arms and legs will remain…

Understandably it has not yet been decided who will now join the German Olympic team instead of Ronny. “At the moment our best wishes for a quick recovery of Ronny are more important”, summarized head coach Andreas Hirsch the mood of the gymnasts and coaches in the training camp in Kienbaum.