A gymnast who suffered a severe leg injury accomplished her goal of walking down the aisle at her wedding.
Samantha Cerio was seen walking down the aisle during her wedding, two months after she suffered the devastating, career-ending injury, Today.com reported. The injury went viral on social media, showing her knees bending in an unnatural way.
She posted photos of her wedding at the Trey Wood at Fairhope Yacht Club in Alabama on Instagram.
In other photos, she was also seen walking down the aisle and her first dance with her husband.
My heart is filled with joy! @Mikey_Pies @sam_cerio pic.twitter.com/Jplojl3lpa
— Becky C (@BeckyC58) June 2, 2019
The gymnast dislocated both knees and tore ligaments in both legs during a competition in April.
Immediately after her traumatic landing, Cerio thought something was a “little wrong” before she saw her legs. She had dislocated both knees.
“I could feel my pass was off by just a little… usually even if they feel off, I can get through,” she added.
After having surgery, she said she wanted to recover enough in time to walk down the aisle at the ceremony.
She discussed her future plans in an interview with NBC’s “Today” show that aired back in April. Speaking from a wheelchair, Cerio said: “It’s looking real good.
“I know I’m going to do everything in my power to make it happen,” she said in regards to her pending marriage.
Cerio used crutches to cross the stage at her graduation in May. She earned a degree in aerospace engineering.
Yesterday, former Auburn gymnast Sam Cerio walked across the stage at her graduation.
Read more about her road to recovery and what’s next here: https://t.co/crM4xcNV7n pic.twitter.com/1OzNPdw4Ga
— Opelika-Auburn News (@oanow) May 5, 2019
This week, Cerio finally walked down the aisle free of crutches to marry fiancé Trey Wood.
OVERCOMING INJURIES: Auburn University graduate and former gymnast Samantha Cerio walked down the aisle free of crutches to marry fiancé Trey Wood in Fairhope. https://t.co/k9ZucKqcc9
— WKRG (@WKRG) June 8, 2019
Despite her injury, Cerio said she is looking forward to the future.
“I’m really excited just because I have so many positive things coming up. I mean, this is a small setback, but it’s… just another thing to get through,” she added. “Even though that was my last gymnastics meet, everything we do, everything I have done and trained for Auburn has always been for my team. Just knowing that I have their support behind me 100 percent… that’s always helped me.”
Epoch Times reporter Jack Phillips and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
