Dafne Schippers will not participate in the 100 meters at the European Athletics Championships in Munich later this month. The thirty-year-old athlete is struggling with a back injury, she said on social media on Friday.
“The timing could hardly be worse,” writes the former world champion in the 200 meters. “The European Championships are coming up and I had already put my focus on that.”
Schippers already canceled the 100 meters in Lignano Sabbiadoro last weekend. “In Italy a new back injury occurred, which I thought was over,” said the reigning Dutch champion in the 100 meters. “The MRI scans show a fracture in the spine.”
The sprinter has been struggling with a back injury for a long time, as a result of which she had to withdraw from the 200 meters during the World Championships in Doha in 2019. She previously ruled out participating in the World Athletics Championships, which took place last month in Eugene, America. In her own words, she had “nothing to look for there”.
“I have known for a while that the life of a top athlete is not always easy,” she continues. “I will encourage my compatriots from home and do everything I can to recover as quickly as possible.”
Munich will host a multi-European Championship from 11 to 21 August. In addition to athletics, the program includes cycling (road, track, mountain bike and BMX), beach volleyball, gymnastics, rowing, table tennis and triathlon. The athletics competitions take place in the Olympiastadion.
During the World Athletics Championships in Doha in 2019, Dafne Schippers had to withdraw from the 200 meters due to a back injury.
During the World Athletics Championships in Doha in 2019, Dafne Schippers had to withdraw from the 200 meters due to a back injury.
Photo: AP
Tags: Dafne Schippers withdraws European Athletics Championships Munich problems
