Elisabeth Seitz has spent over a decade at the top of German gymnastics. A European champion, a World Championships medalist, and a three-time Olympian, she’s performed on the biggest stages, landing skills few have ever attempted. She’s led Germany to historic finishes, stood on podiums, and competed against the best. And now? The 31-year-old German star has an update. One that no gymnast ever wants to share. One that changes everything about what should have been a defining moment on home soil!

Elisabeth Seiz had been fighting through the pain, hoping her body would hold up for one more shot at a home European Championship. A torn supraspinatus tendon in her right shoulder forced the German gymnastics star, a three-time Olympian and the 2022 European champion on uneven bars, to withdraw from the 2025 European Championships in Leipzig (May 26-31). It’s an injury that, affects stability, rotation, and strength in nearly every skill. “This is a difficult message for me to write, but I will not be able to compete in the European Championship qualifications and, accordingly, at the home European Championships in Leipzig in 2025,” Seitz wrote on Instagram, translated via (Google Translate)

Seitz is one of the few female gymnasts to complete the Def (full-twisting Gienger) release on uneven bars and has an eponymous skill, a full-twisting Maloney, named after her. Over the years, she’s racked up nine German national all-around titles and became a World Championship bronze medalist in 2018. But even with that history of resilience, she couldn’t will her shoulder to heal in time. “I’ve tried absolutely everything. Special rehab exercises, strengthening training, but at some point, I had to admit to myself that it wasn’t enough.”

For an athlete who thrives under the roar of a home crowd, the pain isn’t just physical. Leipzig was supposed to be special. The 2025 European Championships would run as part of the International German Gymnastics Festival, an event expected to draw up to 80,000 participants. Seitz had already lived through the magic of competing at home but she knew exactly what she was losing. “A home European Championship is something very special, and I know from my own experience how incredible it feels to perform successfully in front of a home crowd. It breaks my heart even more that I won’t have this experience again in 2025.”

Given the complexity of shoulder injuries, especially in gymnastics, where even minor instability can spell disaster, her focus is now on long-term health rather than rushing back. “But my health comes first. Together with the doctors, I’ve decided to approach the healing process conservatively for the time being, that is, without surgery. My full focus now is on rebuilding my shoulder for long-term health.”

In the immediate future, Seitz has another commitment: her Bundeswehr training course in April. However, what happens after that remains uncertain. “After that, I’ll take my time to figure out what’s next for me athletically.” One thing is clear, Leipzig won’t be the same without her.

The announcement has left fans disappointed, knowing how much a home European Championships meant to Seitz. Messages of support have poured in, with well-wishers hoping for her full recovery.

Fans rally behind Elisabeth Seitz after heartbreaking news

For German gymnastics fans, the news of Elisabeth Seitz not participating in the European Championships is tough to take. Many were looking forward to watching her perform on home soil, especially after her success at the 2022 European Championships in Munich, Germany. One fan voiced what many were thinking: “This is a real shame. I was so hoping to see you in action there on site. But health comes first. Get well soon and get really fit again.” Another echoed the sentiment: “Oh, what a pity, but understandable! Get well soon.”

Recognizing that mental resilience stands as the need of the hour for Seitz, a fan wrote, “Wish you a speedy recovery and a lot of strength for your future!” Meanwhile, some others marked their admiration for the fortitude that she is known for. “You are a fighter. Hug you,” one fan wrote, acknowledging her resilience. “Get well soon. It’s really so bitter what you go through. And yet you’re so strong, it’s just amazing,” wrote another commenter.

Despite the setback, however, the gymnast has made one thing clear—she has no intention of staying away. “Of course, I plan to be in Leipzig, although not as an active gymnast,” she wrote. Elisabeth Seitz’s misfortune may be immense, but her love for the game remains intact.