Overview

• During the third rotation of the men’s artistic qualification on July 23 in Essen, Bonicelli landed short on a triple backflip dismount from the still rings and suffered a severe neck injury that halted the competition.
• He underwent emergency surgery the same night and remains in a medically induced coma as FIG officials say the next 10 days are critical for assessing his condition.
• The Italian Gymnastics Federation announced that the men’s team withdrew from the World University Games because of the emotional distress caused by their teammate’s accident.
• At 23 years old, Bonicelli represents Ghislanzoni GAL in Lecco and was targeting selection for the 2025 World Championships in Jakarta and future Olympic qualification when the injury occurred.
• The incident highlights the razor-thin margins in elite gymnastics, where complex dismounts like the triple back on still rings leave little room for error.