Is 150 days enough for Charline van Snick to recover

Belgian ace Charline van Snick was unlucky at the Tel Aviv Grand Slam after she got injured in her contest against French Astride Gneto in the repechage phase of the tournament. Van Snick hurt her right ankle and couldn’t proceed her bronze medal fight against Majlinda Kelmendi in Israel.

After visit of the University hospital in Liege the World and Olympic medallist was diagnosed with a rupture of the peroneotibial ligament and elongation of the soleus muscle.

On Friday after an MRI and S-ray the damage will be examined to discuss if an operation is necessary and if there is time enough to recover for the Olympic Games at 25 July.

The torn ligament is a blow for "Chachou" who felt really fit and well after her efforts of last year in the corona period. Van Snick is still a medal asset for Belgium. She took bronze in 2012 U48kg and made the step to U52kg and of 2016 after the Rio Games where she finished ninth. The average age for an Olympic medal winner U52kg is 24.8 years. Only two athletes won a Olympic medal older than Van Snick.

Last year she gained a bronze medal at the European Championships in Prague and reached the last eight at the World Championships in 2018 and 2019. In her weight category she won the Grand Slam in Abu Dhabi in 2017 and Grand Prix gold in The Hague in 2018. She took 13 World Tour medals U52kg. The last Olympic medal for Belgium U52kg was Ilse Heylen in 2004. With 150 days to go for the start of the Games, the clock is ticking for 30 year old Van Snick.

Few days later

Van Snick responds happy on her facebook: "No operation! My ankle is quite stable...
A cast, crutches, 10 days of immobilization and a few weeks of revalidation!
Thank you for your support, for all your messages! Thanks to the CHU de Liège for the fast and optimal support"