The German gymnasts will have to compete at the World Championships in Rotterdam without former balance beam world champion Pauline Schäfer-Betz. The 29-year-old from Chemnitz has been struggling with pain in her right hip for several weeks. “Having to skip these World Championships hurts. I really wanted to be on the competition floor and show what I’ve been working on over the past few months,” Schäfer-Betz said in a statement from the federation. “At the same time, it’s important to me to have the cause of the pain thoroughly investigated and to adjust my training accordingly.” The exact cause of the discomfort has not yet been definitively determined. A re-examination of the MRI images revealed abnormalities in the labrum (joint rim). The championships will take place from October 17 to 25. Copyright 2026, dpa (www.dpa.de). All rights reservedExact cause unclear
