The most unpredictable sports injuries of 2023:
Wembanyama was stunned when he learned he was ranked at the “top of the top”
Top athletes fear injury more than anything else. But sometimes some people are unhappier than others. Such as the latest case of Liverpool defender Kostas Tsimikas.
Bad luck can strike at any time. Stairs, insects, tripping… Everything can be a source of unhappiness. The latest is none other than French NBA star Victor Wembanyama, just before the San Antonio Spurs’ Christmas Eve game in Dallas.
1. STAMPING ON THE BALL BALL BOY’S FEET
Right before the match against the Texan team, Wembanyama was injured. He didn’t know what to do other than witness the home team’s loss (144-119). Because the 19-year-old player stepped on a ball boy’s foot during warm-ups and twisted his right ankle.
A grotesque sight for Spurs coach Gregg Popovich: “I’ve never seen that. You watch the video, you can’t believe it. Luckily he only had minor pain. If it was a play-off match, he would definitely still have to play. I didn’t want to take any risks with Victor, so I let him sit out this match. But it seems like he’s not very comfortable because he can’t play.”
Wembanyama (center) is out after being injured after stepping on a ball boy’s foot
Victor Wembanyama ends his pre-game work out early and heads to the locker room frustrated after landing awkwardly on one of the Mavs employees under the basket. pic.twitter.com/wURajkU498
— Landon Thomas (@sixfivelando) December 24, 2023
2. THE COACH FALLS ON HIM
In the highlight match of round 18 of Premier League 2023/24 between Liverpool vs Arsenal (1-1), Greek football player Tsimikas unusually broke his collarbone. The reason was because coach Jurgen Klopp fell on him, leading to injury.
During the dispute with Bukayo Saka (33′), the left back was “knocked” to the sideline, fell down and accidentally rushed into coach Klopp who was standing outside the pitch. The situation was so fast that the German military leader had no time to react and fell on top of his student.
The consequences are not small, Tsimikas will be absent for about 6 weeks, while another left back of The Kop, Andy Robertson, is also absent due to injury. Helpless, Klopp could do nothing else to avoid falling into his student. He only knows that he is “willing to donate his collarbone if it helps Kostas return to health.”
Coach Klopp accidentally caused serious injury to his student
3. FALL OF THE STAIRS
Injuries don’t have to happen on the field! David Cherry had a bitter experience of this at the Rugby World Cup. The Scottish player suffered a concussion after falling down the hotel stairs. This injury forced him to leave the team after the first match in the group stage when they played South Africa and lost 3-18.
Cherry could not hide his disappointment in a press release published by the Scottish Rugby Union: “I am extremely disappointed to have to leave the team with concussion. I am very happy to join the Scottish team for the first time in the World Cup. I will try to recover soon.”
Cherry had to drop out of the tournament because of a concussion after falling down the stairs
4. BITED BY A SPIDER
Also at the Rugby World Cup, in Aix-les-Bains (Eastern France), Johan Retief of Namibia’s main squad was bitten on the chest by a spider. The wound became infected, causing him to be unable to participate in the final match in the group stage, against Uruguay and the home team lost 26-36.
Chrysander Botha, head coach of Nambia national team, could only curse his fate after this difficult injury of his favorite student. “This is something we could not have predicted. Johan was very unlucky and we are disappointed, because he is a very important player for us. He is very versatile and is the captain of our team,” coach Botha lamented.
Johan Retief was unfortunately bitten by a spider
5. INCIDENTS IN THE BATHROOM
Tennis player Beatriz Haddad Maia also experienced disappointing days last September. While she was preparing to face Danielle Collins in the first round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Guadalajara (Mexico), the Brazilian tennis player was injured while stepping out of the bathroom.
The glass door of the bathroom cabin exploded when the world number 11 tennis player opened it. As a result, she suffered several injuries on her body, including her hands. “Other than being scared, I’m fine. But I need a lot of time to return,” the Brazilian female tennis player comforted and reassured fans on her personal page.
Tennis player Maia suffered injuries all over her body after the hotel bathroom window exploded
