As the Paris Olympics hit their stride, the games are brimming with tales of triumph and heartbreak. While defeat stings, the agony of an injury that ends an athlete’s participation is even more profound. Such was the fate of Natalia Escalera, Mexico’s top gymnast and the 2021 Pan American Championship gold medalist, whose Olympic dreams were shattered on Day 2.

Escalera, competing alongside teammates Alexa Moreno and Ahtziri Sandoval, was excelling on the uneven bars. Moreno, making her Olympic debut, earned a commendable 12.633, while Sandoval and Escalera scored 12.266 and 12.800, respectively. The team was performing well, and all seemed under control until a devastating injury struck Escalera during her routine, forcing her out of the 2024 Olympics.

Here’s a closer look at what unfolded on that fateful day.

Who is Mexican Gymnast Natalia Escalera?

Escalera’s gymnastics journey started at the tender age of 8. She began training under the watchful eyes of coach Pavel Oceguera. Under his guidance, Escalera blossomed into a world-class gymnast and Mexico’s Olympic hope. The Mexican star gymnast rose to prominence in the 2021 Pan American Championship, claiming team silver and individual gold in the vault. But that was just the beginning; Escalera continued her gymnastics brilliance through 2022, claiming an all-around silver medal at the Mexican Championships.

Her exemplary feats continued in 2023 as well, culminating in the bronze medal at the 2023 Pan American Games – a well-deserved win that saw her secure a berth to the Paris Olympics. Escalera’s reaction after winning the spot at the Paris Olympics was full of emotions. Talking to International Gymnast Online, Escalera stated, “When I read the Olympic square and my name, I started to cry, cry and cry, but with a feeling of relief and happiness.” Unfortunately, Escaler’s dream run at the Olympics ended abruptly. Here’s how the event unfolded.

Why is Natalia Escalera retreating from the 2024 Paris Olympics?

Escalera, the 22-year-old top Mexican gymnast, was already in pain before the start of the Paris Olympics. She partially tore the plantar tendon in her left leg a few days back before the summer events. Posting on Instagram, she wrote: “Unfortunately, in the last training session, I tore the plantar tendon in my left leg where I had another tear in my calf.” The injury prevented her from participating in women’s artistic all-around gymnastics events. Mexico’s team doctor subsequently cleared her to deliver her routine on the uneven bars, where the ultimate doom came that saw her out of the Olympics.

Starting her routine on Day 2 of the Paris Olympics with promise, Mexico’s top contender for a top-8 finish, Escalera, delivered a graceful performance on the uneven bars, earning a solid 12.800. However, her dismount turned anticipation into shock. As she twisted through the air, her landing was sharp and awkward, signaling trouble. The severity of the situation was immediately clear as Escalera struggled to walk off the stage. The IOC medical team and her staff rushed to her aid, but the damage was done. Escalera had suffered a devastating plantar ligament injury in her left leg, prematurely ending her Olympic journey.

Escalera’s unfortunate injury isn’t an isolated case. American gymnastics star Simone Biles also faced adversity at the 2024 Paris Olympics, sustaining a calf injury before the first round. Unlike the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where she withdrew due to severe twisties, Biles demonstrated remarkable resilience by returning to clear the qualification round with a score of 59.566.

These incidents highlight the physical demands and unpredictable nature of gymnastics at the highest level, reminding us of the athletes’ incredible resilience and determination to compete on the world stage, no matter the obstacles they face.