Italian Gymnast In Medically Induced Coma After Fall At World University Games
Italian men's gymnast Lorenzo Bonicelli is in a medically induced coma after suffering a neck injury at the FISU Summer World University Games. Held in Germany's Rhine-Ruhr region, the 2025 FISU Summer World University Games brought more than 8,500 student-athletes and officials to compete in 18 disciplines.
Bonicelli is just 23 years old and competes for the Ghislanzoni Gal gymnastics club located in Lecco, Italy, just north of Milan.
Like his national teammates, Bonicelli was likely aiming for selection to the Italian team competing at the 2025 World Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia.
When the injury occurred, Bonicelli and the Italian team were competing in the Men's Artistic Gymnastics Qualification round on July 23. The Italian delegation began the competition on floor exercise and then continued with a second rotation on pommel horse. In rotation three, disaster struck on the still rings.
Bonicelli competes one of the most difficult and risky dismounts in men's still rings – a triple back. The dismount requires more than three complete rotations in order to land cleanly. On Wednesday, Bonicelli came up short, landing directly on his neck.
According to Ginnasticando Italia, medical workers present at the arena immediately rushed to Bonicelli's side upon impact. The athlete was eventually carried out of the arena on a medical stretcher.
Due to the emotional distress inflicted by their teammate's injury, the Italian team withdrew from competition following the third rotation.
On Thursday, July 24, an FIG official confirmed the severity of Bonicelli's condition, sharing that the athlete had undergone near-immediate surgery on Wednesday.
Steve Butcher, the Apparatus Supervisor for men's still rings, shared the following update on Bonicelli's condition:
'Lorenzo (Bonicelli) is in a medically induced coma after surgery last night. It will take 10 or more days to know his condition. The entire gymnastics family is pulling for Lorenzo's full recovery,' he added.
Severe Injury Risk in Gymnastics
Though neck and spinal injuries remain a palpable risk in men's and women's gymnastics, severe injuries – causing paralysis or death – are rare.
In 2019, a collegiate gymnast at Southern Connecticut State University died after 'sustaining a spinal injury' during a routine training exercise on the uneven bars.
In 1988, American elite gymnast Julissa Gomez was paralyzed in a vaulting accident. She died in 1991 due to complications from her injuries.
'Gymnastics is a challenging sport that carries a substantial injury risk," the American Journal of Emergency Medicine shared, adding that the sport's head and neck injuries remain 'under-studied.'"
In gymnastics, the most minor adjustment can make a significant difference.
The journal attested to the fine line between safety and tragedy in a 2023 study: 'Epidemiology and patterns of gymnastics-related head & neck trauma injuries.' The study cited Simone Biles' experience at the Tokyo Olympics as evidence of the risk.
Biles experienced 'the twisties,' described as the 'phenomenon of losing air space awareness while twisting,' the journal says. Though seemingly trivial in name, the phenomenon can 'render a gymnast unable to land a twisting maneuver properly…as such, it is unsurprising that artistic gymnasts experience high rates of injury."
Twisties or not, timing is essential in gymnastics. The journal shares a sobering finding: "the window for correct release parameters and successful dismount from the men's high bar has been reported to be ∼73–84 milliseconds.'
That is, 0.073 to 0.085 seconds – a fraction of a second – can distinguish between a safe dismount and major injury.
Bonicelli's diagnosis is still pending following his surgery, with Butcher attesting to a roughly 10-day wait to reveal the extent of his injuries. The broader gymnastics community has quickly wished him a speedy recovery and anxiously awaits an update.
Bonicelli's Instagram bio reads: 'Fight until the end.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Boston Globe
41 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
Gymnast Frederick Richard's latest challenge is attempting to change his sport's strict dress code
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up To which we say, bravo. Advertisement The 21-year-old once again put action behind his words at the recent US championships, switching the traditional stirrup pants, unitards or short shorts for a combination of compression leggings, gym shorts, and jersey style sleeveless tops, clothing he feels is more comfortable, 'cooler,' and more likely to resonate with young, male gymnasts he hopes to inspire. Just as we advocate for women seeking change against Advertisement 'I think what he's doing is fantastic because it's bringing attention to our sport, which is desperately needed,' said Matt Carbone, a girls' competitive team coach and general manager at Sterling Gym. 'He'll find some success down the way but he's exploring new ideas, which is what we need. It may work, may not, but at least he's trying. 'The athletes that look up to him are definitely appreciative of what he's trying to do.' On a recent episode of the 'Neutral Deductions' podcast, Richard explained, 'Our sport has so much further to go and if we're not willing to take risks and try new things even if they're not the right things, then why am I dedicating my life to this? That's why I want to try new things even if there are consequences.' Frederick Richard is trying to change the strict dress code of gymnastics. Gerald Herbert/Associated Press And there were consequences. Measurably, a three-10ths deduction each day as required by FIG, the international gymnastics federation. Richard insisted after a second-place finish (it wouldn't have changed without the deduction), 'it's 1,000 percent worth it. If you look at these kids in the crowd, I'm thinking about them and I'm thinking about when I was younger.' That kid wanted to look cool, but in saying as much, Richard risks blowback from those who question if painting old uniforms as too feminine is inherently homophobic or misogynistic. But Richard, who speaks from his own life experience as a boy doing what was perceived as a female-dominated sport, has never made comments to that effect. He just remembers wanting to like his workout gear. Advertisement 'If I left the gym to go to the gas station, I didn't want anybody to see me in my pommel horse pants,' Richard said at the recent championships. 'Kids would say, 'Do you do gymnastics?' I'd say, 'Yeah.' But I didn't want them to search 'gymnast' and see the uniform. I didn't feel like it was cool.' Related : With his youth and deftness at all things social media — TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, et al — Richard is well-positioned to be in this generation of influencer athletes and help the sport grow. That's where the uniform motivation comes from. As he continues to point out, there is no final product yet in his work with the apparel company Turn, and he is constantly taking in feedback from other gymnasts, coaches, judges or fans. He knows how important it is for judges to be able to see the body's form as it performs routines, that the lines of the torso not be lost in baggy clothes. And he's not asking for any of the traditional versions to be eliminated, only that gymnasts have choices. Such as the German women who incorporated full-length unitards into their uniform choices, or USA Gymnastics' decision to allow girls to wear bike shorts over their leotards, there are ways to satisfy all parties. The athletes should have a voice and the right to feel comfortable. From women who are overly sexualized in skimpy beach volleyball outfits or high-cut leotards to swimmers who went from speedos to unitards, change can be found in progress and progress can be found in change. Good for Richard for leading the way. Advertisement Tara Sullivan is a Globe columnist. She can be reached at
Business Upturn
7 hours ago
- Business Upturn
Donnarumma set for PSG exit amid legal threats; Premier League move likely
By Ravi Kumar Jha Published on August 13, 2025, 08:20 IST Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma appears set to leave the French giants after being left out of the squad, with his agent confirming legal action is being considered and a Premier League transfer now the most probable outcome. Speaking to Sky Sport, Donnarumma's agent Enzo Raiola expressed shock over the club's sudden change of stance, revealing that the Italian goalkeeper had even agreed to a salary reduction to stay. 'From Gigio's words, you can feel he's very sad. I am stunned… years of respect and then in the last 10 days all collapsed,' Raiola said. Raiola accused PSG of a 'big lack of respect' after they opted to sign another goalkeeper and remove Donnarumma from the team. He confirmed that their legal team will be reviewing the case, suggesting the decision was abrupt and financially motivated. The agent also criticised PSG's demands, claiming they were 'exaggerated' and driven purely by money. While legal proceedings remain on the table, Raiola said they will try to better understand PSG's position in the coming days, even with lawyers involved. Donnarumma, joined PSG from AC Milan in 2021 after winning the European Championship with Italy. He has been the club's first-choice goalkeeper but now faces an uncertain future as tensions with the club escalate. Ahmedabad Plane Crash Ravi kumar jha is an undergraduate student in Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia and Mass Communication. A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication and he also has a genuine interest in sports. Ravi is currently working as a journalist at
Epoch Times
11 hours ago
- Epoch Times
Italian Orienteer Dies After Collapsing at World Games in China
An Italian orienteering competitor died Aug. 12 at the World Games in Chengdu, China, four days after collapsing during a race. Mattia Debertolis, 29, was midway through the men's middle-distance final on Aug. 8 when he was found unconscious along the course by event personnel. The race was held about 30 miles from central Chengdu in heat exceeding 86 degrees Fahrenheit and high humidity.
