It began with a fall. Just one misstep in an already demanding routine. For a seasoned gymnastics star, it could have been just another bruise, another bump to shake off. But for this elite competitor, the aftermath told a different story. The pain didn’t fade. Instead, it signaled a deeper problem, a sudden detour in a journey that was supposed to be building toward Paris. Thankfully, with her grit and determination, this 28-year-old gymnast has been able to claw her way back to the mainstream competition.
After months of pushing through discomfort, the setback reached its climax. Pauline Schaefer, Germany’s three-time Olympian and balance beam world medalist, was forced to face what every athlete dreads. Surgery. In September, while competing at the German World Trials, she aggravated an injury after a fall on the floor exercise. Initially able to compete on uneven bars and beam, it soon became clear that her body needed more than rest. What followed was a complicated repair of her hip and labrum. One, she approached with remarkable resolve.
Taking to her Instagram recently, Schaefer came up with the good news: “The surgery went well: My labrum was successfully sutured and the hip ligament was smoothed. Now the next phase begins—healing, patience, and gradually returning to full strength.” Surely, behind the composed update is a deeper story of persistence. Determined not to let her Olympic dreams fade, Schaefer made sure she was under the best possible care.
At the Asklepios Klinik Birkenwerder, she found not only top-tier medical expertise but also the emotional reassurance she needed. She credited the staff, especially Dr. Möckel, for offering a blend of precision and compassion that helped ease the burden of such a critical moment in her career. For a gymnast whose body is both a tool and a canvas, knowing she was in skilled hands made all the difference.
Now, her recovery begins. Not just a physical process, but a mental one. The road to full strength is long, and Schaefer knows it. But she also knows the path. This is a comeback story still in its early chapters. With an eye on Los Angeles 2028 and the hope of making her fourth Olympic team, she’s not dwelling on the fall. Instead, she’s leaning into the future, one careful step at a time.
The outpouring of support from fans and fellow athletes has only fueled her drive. She’s deeply moved by the kind words and messages, and though the journey ahead is uncertain, one thing is clear: Pauline Schaefer isn’t done yet. And it was not the first time she had proved her ironclad mentality. In a surprising revelation, Schaefer opened up about abuse in gymnastics.
Pauline and Helene Schaefer, sisters, break silence on years of abuse in gymnastics
In a chilling revelation, Pauline and Helene Schaefer have spoken out about the disturbing realities behind their decorated gymnastics careers. What was once perceived as rigorous elite training has now been laid bare as a daily cycle of psychological terror, manipulation, and humiliation. Together with Sophia Steurer, Lisa Hill, Isabelle Marquardt, and Rosa-Lynn Schmitz, the Schaefer sisters detailed years of emotional and psychological abuse in an interview with Spiegel.de.
Their testimony paints a grim picture of an environment where pain was normalized and personal boundaries were routinely ignored. Helene Schäfer recalled being prescribed an opioid painkiller for persistent hip pain—allegedly at the suggestion of coach Gabi Frehse—without being warned of its addictive potential.
The sisters’ shared experience was further echoed in a joint Instagram statement that described the system as one that was “focused on incapacitating and suppressing athletes.” The statement continued, “Abuse was perceived as normal because one didn’t know any different, and we were making sacrifices for success.” It took years, they said, to even realize that what they endured wasn’t just tough coaching; it was a systematic violation of their rights.
Despite their enduring love for gymnastics, both sisters are now weighing retirement, hoping their voices can drive a reckoning. “We offer our support to those who feel the need to talk about their experiences or want to take action.” Their courage to speak out is not just a reckoning with the past. Rather, it’s a call to reshape the future of gymnastics.
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