Former Olympian Almudena Cid Opens Up About Elite Sport Injuries
The renowned Spanish gymnast discussed the lifelong physical toll of professional athletics and the lack of institutional support during a television interview.
Former Spanish gymnast Almudena Cid opened up about the lasting physical consequences of her elite sports career during an emotional appearance on the television program Salvados. With four Olympic finals to her name, Cid discussed the lack of institutional assistance that many high-level athletes face once their competitive careers conclude.
During the broadcast, Cid explained that elite sports can leave athletes with lifelong injuries and medical conditions that often go unmanaged by authorities. After dedicating 21 years to professional competition, the 43-year-old athlete recently underwent surgery to receive a hip replacement. The procedure was necessary due to an undetected injury she sustained back in 2001.
“They told me it had been broken for 20 years,” Cid lamented during her conversation with host Gonzo. She confessed to feeling intense panic about the possibility of permanent disability and how it would alter her life.
Overwhelmed by emotion, the former gymnast paused and shed tears before explaining that she had underestimated how deeply the ordeal would affect her. Despite having an incredible recovery and showing immense dedication to her rehabilitation, she noted that athletes frequently feel abandoned by the system.
“You feel that no one has taken responsibility,” she stated, adding that athletes ultimately must learn to rely on themselves. However, she also expressed relief and surprise at the success of her recovery, admitting she initially assumed many physical activities would remain closed to her.
Beyond her personal medical struggles, Cid addressed the broader systemic issues affecting retired athletes who lack proper labor protections and social security contributions. Alongside fellow former sports figures Fernando Romay and Lola Fernández Ochoa, she highlighted how competitors sacrifice their youth for their country only to face financial and professional insecurity later in life.
The athletes criticized a system that demands extreme dedication from an early age but abandons its stars once their brief careers end, leaving them without the minimum requirements for a proper retirement. To combat this instability, Cid has helped establish a union aimed at securing fair contributions and a dignified retirement for professional sports competitors.