The haunting image of Stefanidi circulated widely, drawing waves of sympathy from sports enthusiasts around the world, particularly in her home country of Greece, where she’s a national hero. (Wire Photo)

BUDAPEST, Hungary [Aug. 21] - World champion pole vaulter Katerina Stefanidi suffered a serious ankle injury during warm-ups at the World Athletics Championships prelims, a cruel twist of fate that shattered her quest for a medal before the competition even began.

After placing fourth in Doha earlier this season and achieving her season's best recently in London, Katerina was fully fit and brimming with optimism going into the world championship event. However, fate had other plans.

In her own words, the accident was, quote, “Not the best timing.”

Olympic Champion Katerina Stefanidi was forced to withdraw due to injury from the World Athletics Championships on Monday, August 21.

In fact, the injury was so painful, Katerina fainted and was taken to the medical center. Although she returned to the venue an hour later with the ankle heavily taped, it stiffened before her first attempt. Instead of standing on the awards stand as she’s done many times before, she was forced to withdraw. Her season ended with her being rolled away from the stadium in a wheelchair.

In a post to her fans on social media, she wrote: “We will wait for our return to Athens for the MRI, hoping that it is not something serious. I want to believe that in this misfortune, I was a little lucky and avoided something worse. Thank you for your well-wishes.”

The outpouring of support shows the impact she’s had through her fine achievements and her inspirational character. Throughout her career, Stefanidi has shown remarkable resilience, overcoming numerous injuries on her path to becoming a champion. She has enjoyed top positions in the world finals since 2015, won the Rio Olympics in 2016, and captured world championship golds in 2017 and in 2019.

Shown on a happy day with her Olympic gold medal, Katerina is supported on her quest by her husband and coach, Mitchell Krier.

But in her quest to master the most demanding, technically difficult, and dangerous event in track and field, Katerina has suffered and recovered from several injuries through her career, and at one time in her youth even considered giving up the sport. She’s been down before but not out. A gritty heroine in real life, Katerina has overcome many injuries on her way to the top.

Her journey mirrors the struggles and triumphs portrayed in the young adult novel "Maggie Vaults Over the Moon," a story to which she is deeply connected.

In writing the foreword for the new edition of the book as a co-contributor, Stefanidi writes about her challenges and encourages young readers to emulate the heroine Maggie Steele.

“I became the person I am today because of all my life experiences, both good and bad. Maggie Steele is a lot like me and you and every person struggling with important life decisions and challenges right now. Like Maggie, our success in life and in sport comes from listening to the voice that whispers to us from within, to get back up and try again!” — Katerina Stefanidi, Olympic Champion (from the foreword)

In the novel, Maggie Steele suffers a similar fate in competition, landing on the pole vault crossbar, twisting her ankle. In fiction, Maggie’s coach tapes her up and she makes a few more gritty jumps, with a happy ending. In real-life, Katerina's injury was far more serious. Along with the rest of the pole-vault community, author Grant Overstake and his wife, Claire, were devastated to learn about Katerina’s injury.

“We believe the highest and best for Katerina and extend our sympathies to her and her husband/coach Mitch Krier. It’s a very painful way for a season to end, but we are praying for the best outcome, which means a speedy and full recovery, so she regains top form in advance of the 2024 Olympics.”

Mark your calendar: The Games of the XXXIII Olympiad will be held in Paris from July 26 to August 11 next year.

“We know that if it’s humanly possible, Katerina Stefanidi will be there.”

About Maggie Vaults Over the Moon

Hailed one of the great track and field novels of all time, the saga of a gritty Kansas farm girl’s quest to master the daring sport of pole-vaulting has stirred hopes and dreams around the world, especially among tweens and younger teens. The novel has been reissued as a classroom reader, with discussion questions designed to help students reconnect, through the power of a great story, after the separation that has disrupted their social and emotional lives.

“Girls who play sports and the coaches and families who support them will thoroughly enjoy this warm, uplifting story.” – Christine Brennan, USA TODAY

In addition to the timeless story, this new edition includes an inspiring foreword by Olympic Pole Vault Champion Katerina Stefanidi, with group discussion questions by Dr. Melissa White, a Language Arts Teacher and Mental Performance Consultant with a Doctorate in Sport Psychology.

Maggie Vaults Over the Moon is available worldwide in paperback, ebook, and audiobook at Amazon and other stores.

Heartbreak in Budapest: World Champion Pole Vaulter Katerina Stefanidi's Medal Dreams Shattered by Devastating Injury!