“Just Want to Give Everyone Hope”: 5 Months After Traumatic Fall That Led to Brain Surgery, 20-Year-Old Figure Skater Made an Inspiring Comeback Earlier This Year

Injuries are a part of any athlete’s life. But some athletes bear the brunt of it more than others. Figure skaters are one such group of professional athletes who embody such grace and elegance, and at the same time are prone to severe injuries at any point in time. 20-year-old figure skater Solene Mazingue suffered a similar fate late last year. However, what set her apart, as it does with any inspirational athlete, is that she made a terrific comeback in the recent World Figure Skating Championships after her brain surgery.

Estonian figure skater Solene Mazingue suffered a serious fall last year during practice. Mazingue, an ice dancer, part of figure skating, suffered an injury that was traumatic and her return to ice didn’t seem likely anytime soon. Breaking all odds, she made a stellar comeback just 5 months later.

Ice dancer returns from grave injury

An Instagram post by the Olympics shared the incredible story of Mazingue’s comeback by pasting her side-by-side pictures from when she was recuperating in the hospital and recently at the World Figure Skating Championships. The post also quoted Mazingue from after her rhythm dance skate in Japan, where she said, “Anything is possible and if you believe in yourself and don’t give up, you can do it. I made it in five months to be here at the World Championships”.

Continuing her brave stance on inspiring everyone as an example, she continued, “I just want to give everyone hope, even if it’s a small injury or whatever, a problem in your life, anything is possible. If you have a goal in your life, you can make it for sure”. Mazingue’s partner was Marko Jevgeni Gaidajenko, who was there at the time of her accident.

READ MORE – “If He’s There, It’s Priceless”- Yuzuru Hanyu Fans on Top of the World After His Exciting Latest Update

On October 2022, Gaidajenko tripped while lifting Mazingue during practice. Mazingue hit her head on the ice and suffered a skull fracture and intracranial bleeding. She had to be immediately hospitalized.

Her efforts will keep her Olympics dream alive

The injury was extremely severe, and it required months of physiotherapy. Mazingue was finally cleared to return to the ice in January 2023 when she broke down and started crying. Several emotions ran through her, not least of which was if she was ever going to compete again. However, her dream of winning the Olympics one day, presumably in Paris next year, is still alive. So she went to Japan with her partner Gaidajenko to compete at the World Championships in March 2023.

She had to wear a helmet till March for protective measures, but at the recent competitions, she let go of it. Mazingue looked fit and back in her flowy motion. Mazingue/Gaidajenko earned the 28th position in rhythm dance with a total of 55.67 points. They didn’t qualify for the free round, but Mazingue won everyone’s hearts with her valiant effort. Not unlike Yuzuru Hanyu’s comeback after injury, fans will remember Mazingue’s story for a long time.

Watch this story | Top 10 Moments of Olympic Sporting Spirit