A 16-year-old gymnast suffered a shocking fall over the weekend, when she leaped off the balance beam and crashed onto her neck and head.
Morgan Hurd, a senior international elite and US national team member who won the all-around gold at the world championships last year in Montreal, was competing in the Pacific Rim Championships in Medellin, Colombia, on Saturday when she fell.
The athlete can be seen in a shocking video trying to perform a piked full-in before landing sharply on her upper body.
Tumble: Gymnast Morgan Hurd suffered a shocking fall over the weekend, when she leaped off the balance beam and crashed onto her neck and head
Skill: The athlete can be seen in a shocking video trying to perform a piked full-in before landing sharply on her upper body
Event: Morgan was competing in the Pacific Rim Championships in Medellin, Colombia, on Saturday when she fell
Her neck and head appear to smash violently onto the ground while the crowd gasps in response to the fall.
When she got back up, Morgan appeared disoriented and even stumbled off the mat after saluting, FloGymnastics reported.
She was then seen by the team doctor, who cleared her to continue competing, USA Gymnastics announced on Twitter.
Morgan thus performed her floor routine, and according to the organization performed ‘both a double layout and tucked double double’.
However, the gymnast announced on social media the next day that she would be unable to compete during the finals as a result of her fall.
End: The gymnast, a senior international elite who won the all-around gold at the world championships last year in Montreal, was trying to leap off the beam
Dangerous: Her neck and head appeared to smash violently onto the ground while the crowd gasped in response to the fall
Carrying on: Morgan (pictured at the world championships last year) was then seen by the team doctor, who cleared her to continue competing
Withdrawing: However, the gymnast announced on social media the next day that she would be unable to compete during the finals as a result of her fall
‘Due to my fall on beam last night, the decision has been made for me to not compete finals today as a precautionary,’ she wrote.
‘Although I am very sad about this decision, I know it is best for my safety. but I have to remember that this is not the end goal and I will go home and work even harder to make my country proud again.
‘For today though, I cannot wait to be the loudest person in the crowd cheering for my team.’
USA Gymnastics confirmed the news on Twitter, writing: ‘Morgan Hurd has withdrawn from today’s event finals as a precautionary measure after taking a fall on her balance beam dismount in yesterday’s team and all-around competition.’
Morgan has since posted several photos of herself with her teammates on social media, and on Tuesday made it clear that although the competition is over she already misses the event and its atmosphere.
‘It has only been a little over 24 hours and I’m already so sad because I miss everyone,’ she wrote.
The gymnast ended up placing second in the all-around despite her fall, meaning she returned from the Pacific Rim Championships with a silver medal. Her team also won gold.