Alison dos Santos
Brasilia, February 9 (PL) - Brazilian athlete Alison dos Santos, world champion in the 400 meters hurdles, suffered a serious injury to the lateral meniscus of his right knee and will have to undergo surgery.
Dos Santos, 22, also a bronze medalist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in the same event, was performing stretching and mobility exercises when his knee gave out last Monday.
Tests detected a serious injury called Bucket Loop, which refers to the way the injured meniscus is left.
I want to thank everyone who is with me at this time. Who are sending messages, good energy, who are doing everything possible to comfort me a little in this situation", said Dos Santos in a video in which he thanked all the support of the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB).
The medical team informed that they are still evaluating which surgery will be performed. It may be a suture of the meniscus, the most indicated, or its total removal (it works as a shock absorber of the knee), which speeds up the return of the athletes to training.
The surgery is still unscheduled, but will be performed as soon as possible. The decision should be made on Friday.
Dos Santos intended to travel to the United States to continue his preparation, with the aim of qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Her result at the World Championships held in July in Eugene (United States) gave Brazil an unexpected title in athletics since the feat of pole vaulter Fabiana Murer in 2011.
Dos Santos' medal was the 14th for the South American giant in the history of planetary tournaments, which began in 1983 in Helsinki, Finland. Brazil has two golds, six silvers and six bronzes.
After being one of the protagonists of the fastest race of all time in the final of the Tokyo Olympic Games and returning to his country with a bronze, the two-meter tall Brazilian climbed several steps in the universal competition.
In the competition, Dos Santos left American Rai Benjaim behind, ignored the presence of the world record holder, Norwegian Karsten Warholm, and crossed the finish line in first place with 46 seconds and 29 thousandths.
His time is the best in the event in the history of world championships. It is third all-time. He set the best record last season in which he leads the ranking. He dreams even higher, even in surpassing Warholm's 45 seconds 94 thousandths.
