Olympics star wheelchaired out of arena in tears after suffering injury seconds before heptathlon
Sophie Weissenberg appeared to injure herself in the warm-up
GETTY
Germany's Sophie Weissenberg was carted out of the Stade de France on a wheelchair after suffering an injury in her warm-up for the first event in the women's heptathlon.
The 100m hurdles kicked off the start of the women's heptathlon with Team GB duo Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Jade O'Dowda competing in the first race.
Weissenberg was up next in the second race but she was left in a heap on the track following a mishap in her warm-up.
After successfully jumping over the first hurdle, Weissenberg clattered into the second with her left leg.
That left her hobbling as she attempted to slow down before the next set of hurdles which were laid on the floor.
But the injury appeared to occur as she came to a halt when she awkwardly twisted her right ankle.
Weissenberg immediately hit the floor in agony and burst into tears with medics rushing to her aid.
She had to be helped to her feet by paramedics before hobbling into a wheelchair and being carted out of the stadium.
It meant that she was unable to run in the second heat of the women's 100m hurdles event, which featured gold medal favourite Nafissatou Thiam.
The Belgian won gold in the women's heptathlon back in Rio and Tokyo.
Annik Kaelin held first position in the standings after the first heptathlon event after winning the third heat in a time of 12.86.
Britain's Johnson-Thompson wasn't too far back in eighth with O'Dowda in 14th.
Sophie Weissenberg was in tears after twisting her ankle
REUTERS
The high jump is the second event scheduled for women's heptathlon, a discipline Weissenberg usually excels in.
Johnson-Thompson is also a strong contender in the high jump and ranked second on her way to gold at last year's world championships.
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Katarina Johnson-Thompson finished second in her heat
REUTERS
The athletes will then compete in the shot put and the 200m race in the evening on Friday to mark the halfway stage of the event.
Things pick back up on Friday morning as they step onto the runway for the long jump before the javelin.
The heptathlon finishes with the 800m race on Friday evening.
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