- Michelle Jenneke shares details of her injuries following a shocking fall
- The Australian athlete took a dramatic tumble during her 100m hurdles heat
- The star is hopeful to compete again, depending on her injury status
Olympian Michelle Jenneke has opened up about her injuries following a startling fall that has put her Paris Olympic aspirations at risk.
The 31-year-old participated in the third heat and started strong over the first two hurdles but collided with the third hurdle using her right leg.
After the impact, she lost her balance, was thrown forward, and fell heavily on her left side.
Quickly recovering, Jenneke attempted the next hurdle, awkwardly in the lane of the runner next to her.
A second mishap almost occurred as she failed to get a proper run-up for the hurdle, knocking it down but managing to stay upright and continue the race.
Despite finishing in a different lane from where she started, she managed to cross the finish line, and this means she will compete in the repechage later today, allowing her a second chance to qualify.
Fortunately for Jenneke, she will not face disqualification because she completed the race.
After the event, Jenneke shared images of her injuries on social media.
Australian Michelle Jenneke suffered a nasty fall during the heats of the 100m hurdles
She was able to finish the race and will get a second chance in the repechage for the hurdles
Jenneke posted an update on her injuries, thanking fans who have wished her well
‘I appreciate all the good wishes!’ she noted.
‘I’m feeling mostly okay, but I’m awaiting further evaluation on my leg.’
‘Just a slight burn from the track but it’s manageable considering the fall I had.’
‘Most importantly, I’m still smiling and confident for a terrific race if luck is on my side.’
Jenneke previously secured a silver medal at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics and the 2016 Australian Athletics Championships, earning a spot in the Rio Olympics.
She is also well-known for her signature warm-up dance before competitions.
Jenneke says she’s waiting to find out the full extent of her injury but is ready to race again
Jenneke is Australia’s second fastest 100m women’s hurdler behind Sally Pearson and has captured hearts with her trademark dance she does before races
One of her dance videos has amassed an impressive 27 million views on YouTube, gaining international attention.
She clocked a personal best time of 12.65 seconds before the Games, a mark that would have secured her automatic qualification without the need for a repechage.
Jenneke has also enjoyed a successful modeling career, which includes a significant Coca-Cola sponsorship and an appearance on Top Gear.
Her impressive time makes her the second-fastest Australian women’s hurdler to date, surpassed only by Sally Pearson, who holds the national record at 12.28 seconds set in 2011.
The heat was won by American star Masai Russell, who finished in a time of 12.53 seconds.
