“I don’t think I’m ready yet to say I’m ending my career, but I’m not ready either to say officially that I’m coming back for this or that competition, this or that date,” said the French gymnastics star. “I know I’m not going to end on what happened at the Games because I made way too many sacrifices to leave it like that. I’m not ending on what happened at the Games.” Her words reflect a deep resolve not to let the heartbreak of the Paris Olympics define the end of her journey. We’re talking about Melanie De Jesus dos Santos. At 25, she’s not finished yet. She made it clear that if she returns, it will be for the joy of the sport. Even after beginning gymnastics at a young age, she believes there’s still more to write in her story.
Melanie is determined to show that she can still create magic on the mat. But to turn that vision into reality, she knows she needs a strong support system behind her. The Martinique native seemed to be on the right path—reconnecting with her roots, enjoying precious moments with family and friends after a long time. However, things took an unexpected turn, forcing her to make a difficult, decisive choice.
On July 11, Melanie De Jesus dos Santos posted a lengthy message on Instagram, accompanied by two photos and a video. In one photo, she’s seen with a bandage on her left hand, giving a thumbs-up with her right. As for the video, it shows the Olympian undergoing rehab for her left hand, which had a noticeable stitch along the vein area. So, what happened to Melanie? Her caption revealed the full story. She started, “Hello everyone, well I’m going back over the questions I was asked, I didn’t take the time to answer, sorry… I had an operation a little over three months ago for a venous problem that had been bothering me for several years.”
In her caption, Melanie revealed she had been dealing with a blood clotting condition. “For a long time, I took a treatment (Xarelto) that allowed my blood to flow, because I suffered from vascular malformation and blood clots had formed in my veins,” she explained. But she had to stop the medication ahead of the Tokyo Olympics to avoid complications while training and competing. Despite the risks, she continued pushing through the condition for three more years. After the Paris Olympics, though, the pain became more intense, prompting her to seek medical advice. “So I decided to consult and therefore we concluded that surgery is necessary,” wrote the 2019 all-around champion. So where does she stand now?
Melanie reassured her fans that she’s doing much better now—she’s no longer in pain, and her rehabilitation is progressing well. The update brought comfort to many of her supporters. One fan commented, “Wow, sorry to hear that, I admire your willingness to not give up and just retire, you are so young and gifted, good luck to you and hope to you competing more .” Indeed, Melanie De Jesus dos Santos endured her struggles quietly for a long time. Despite dealing with a vascular malformation in her hand, she continued to perform high-level gymnastics with remarkable grace. It’s a truly admirable feat. Members of the gymnastics community have since come forward to praise her strength and resilience, sending their support and encouragement her way.
The French gymnast finds the gymnastics community standing with her
“Ma Frankenstein,” one fan jokingly commented—an emotional jab that hit differently. Why? Flashback to June 25 last year: Mélanie De Jesus dos Santos shared a raw, post-training photo that stopped many in their tracks. Her forearm and hand were smeared with a mix of chalk and blood, a haunting sign that practice hadn’t been kind that day. With a crumpled tissue in her hand, likely trying to stop the bleeding, the snapshot landed in her gymnastics highlights on Instagram—a silent scream in plain sight. And yet, despite that, she made it to the Paris Olympics. Not only that, she later hit the road with Simone Biles for the Gold Over America Tour. That’s not just commitment—it’s heart, grit, and a whole lot of pain swallowed behind a smile.
Gymnastics coach Cece Thelamon couldn’t ignore it either. “Wow so such a great champion you suffered in silence. Get well soon,” she commented, recognizing the years of quiet endurance The truth came crashing down in Golden Soul, a short documentary released on June 27, 2025. In one heart-wrenching moment, Melanie opened up: “Just before the games, my brain stopped responding. I only had my legs left to do the gymnastics.” Her voice cracked with vulnerability as she described the terrifying disconnect—her body moving, her mind frozen. And still, she pushed through. That’s who she’s always been.
Now, with surgery behind her and rehab in full swing, fans are rallying like never before. “Take care of yourself and come back even stronger .” one wrote. With the Jakarta World Artistic Gymnastics Championships looming on the horizon, anticipation is building. Will she be back on the mat in time?
Another fan’s hopeful message captured the collective heartbeat: “Your getting better have a great recovery… very soon you’ll be back to practicing what makes you so happy.. kisses sister .” The message is loud and clear: fans don’t just want her to return—they believe she will. And when she does, she won’t just be stepping back onto the mat. She’ll be stepping into a chapter defined not by pain, but by the power to rise through it.
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