Gymnast BREAKS both legs in horror fall FREE now and never miss the top F1 stories again SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top F1 stories again When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Samantha Cerio was competing for Auburn University in the regional finals of the 2019 Gymnastics Championships in America when she attempted a handspring double front in her floor routine. Cerio sprinted into the approach and looked in good shape to land the complicated manoeuvre. But, as the shocking footage shows, her legs collapsed on impact and she is left writing on the floor in pain. The crowd can be heard gasping as a doctor rushes to her side, where they find the stricken gymnast having dislocated both knees and broken both of her legs. A commentator on the action is heard on TV saying: “I think she may be hurt.” They then add: “It looked like that ankle came down very awkwardly and she is obviously in some pain.” The camera then cut away from the action. Doctors rushed to Cerio’s aid and she was stretchered out of the arena with air costs on both of her legs. The crowd stood to applaud as she was taken from the floor. The injury is so severe that Cerio has decided to quit gymnastics for good. The university gymnast dislocated both knees and broke both of her legs in the gruesome landing Cerio was confident as she began her first floor routine of the round, but ended up in agony It's taught me hard work, humility, integrity, and dedication, just to name a few Gymnast Samantha Cerio “After 18 years I am hanging up my grips and leaving the chalk behind,” Cerio posted on Instagram after the shocking fall, which was caught on camera. “I couldn't be prouder of the person that gymnastics has made me to become. “It's taught me hard work, humility, integrity, and dedication, just to name a few. “It's given me challenges and road blocks that I would have never imagined that has tested who I am as a person. The university gymnast proceeded with purpose, unaware of what was about to take place The crowd were sent into shock by the incident, but stayed to show Cerio support “It may not have ended the way I had planned, but nothing ever goes as planned.” Auburn coach Jeff Graba revealed that he had never seen an injury as severe as Cerio’s, and praised the athlete for her bravery. He said: “It was pretty tough to watch. “She’s a trooper. The last thing she said was, ‘Go help the girls.’ The girls rallied around her. They’re doing this for her right now.” Cerio sent out a positive message to supporters on Instagram after her horrifying injuries<doc-sep>A college gymnastics star has announced her retirement from the sport after suffering a gruesome injury during the NCAA Regional Semifinal in Baton Rouge, La., on Friday. Auburn University senior Samantha Cerio, 22, was attempting a handspring double front on the first tumbling pass of her floor routine when she landed awkwardly, dislocating both knees and breaking both legs, according to the Times-Picayune. Auburn coach Jeff Graba, who has been coaching gymnastics since the 1980s, told the Times-Picayune that he’d never seen an injury like Cerio's in his entire career. "It was pretty tough to watch,” Graba told the outlet. "She's a trooper. The last thing she said was, 'Go help the girls.' The girls rallied around her. They’re doing this for her right now." The injured athlete received a standing ovation as she was carried off the floor on a stretcher. WARNING: The following footage is graphic: On Sunday, Cerio, who is studying aerospace engineering and was recently named the SEC co-scholar athlete of the year, took to Instagram to share with friends and followers that she was "leaving the chalk behind" after 18 years of practicing gymnastics. "I couldn’t be prouder of the person that gymnastics has made me to (sic) become," she wrote in an emotional post. "It’s taught me hard work, humility, integrity, and dedication, just to name a few." "It may not have ended the way I had planned, but nothing ever goes as planned," she continued. "Thank you Auburn family for giving me a home and a chance to continue doing the sport that will always be my first love ... Thank you for letting me be a part of something bigger than myself." Despite Cerio's injury, Auburn University advanced to the NCAA Regional Final on Saturday. "She is the heart and soul of our team," coach Graba said of Cerio. "We wanted more than anything to do this for her." Sadly, the team failed to advance to the national championships. RELATED: Check out these devastating sports injuries:<doc-sep>
Warning: This article contains a graphic video that may be disturbing to watch. A star Auburn gymnast broke both her legs in a NCAA competition this weekend. NOLA.com reports Samantha Cerio, a 5-foot senior at Auburn University, suffered a heartbreaking injury while attempting a handspring double front on her first tumbling pass at Friday’s NCAA gymnastics regional in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She landed awkwardly during the floor routine, breaking both legs and dislocating both her knees. “It was pretty tough to watch. She’s a trooper,” Auburn coach Jeff Graba told the New Orleans newspaper. The competition was halted as trainers and medical staff tended to Cerio for almost 10 minutes. She was eventually carted off on a stretcher and taken to a nearby hospital. Note: Cerio’s routine begins at the 39:15 mark. Gruesome injury occurs on first pass. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports her team made it to the regional final but failed to advance to the national championships. Teammates and fans shared support on social media with the hashtag #StickItForSam. Cerio, recently named the SEC co-scholar athlete of the year, thanked her team and supporters with a message from her hospital room. “I love my team," she tweeted. Cerio, an aerospace engineering major, announced Sunday on Instagram that Friday was her “final night” as a gymnast. “After 18 years I am hanging up my grips and leaving the chalk behind,” she wrote. “I couldn’t be prouder of the person that gymnastics has made me to become. It’s taught me hard work, humility, integrity, and dedication, just to name a few. It’s given me challenges and road blocks that I would have never imagined that has tested who I am as a person. It may not have ended the way I had planned, but nothing ever goes as planned.” Thank you Auburn family for giving me a home and a chance to continue doing the sport that will always be my first love. I am honored to have had the privilege to represent the navy and orange AU for the past 4 years with my team by my side. Thank you for letting me share my passion with you. Thank you for letting me be a part of something bigger than myself.”