French pole vaulter Margot Chevrier suffered a serious ankle injury during the women’s pole-vault final at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, leaving spectators and fellow competitors deeply concerned as emergency medical personnel rushed to assist her.
The incident occurred during the 2024 championships at the Commonwealth Arena in Glasgow. Chevrier was competing in the pole-vault final when a difficult landing resulted in a severe injury that brought the competition to a temporary halt. World Athletics confirmed that the French athlete suffered a cruel injury during her attempt.
Chevrier had successfully cleared 4.55 metres before attempting the next height of 4.65 metres. During the attempt, she became caught in the landing area and fell awkwardly, suffering a serious injury to her ankle.
Medical staff immediately attended to the athlete as she remained on the track. The severity of the injury required urgent treatment, and Chevrier was eventually carried from the arena on a stretcher and transported to hospital in Glasgow.
Reports at the time described the injury as an open fracture of the ankle involving the talus bone. Chevrier later provided an update from hospital, indicating that she would undergo surgery before continuing treatment in France.
The incident was particularly difficult because Chevrier was one of France’s leading female pole vaulters and had ambitions of competing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Her injury immediately raised questions about whether she would be able to recover in time for the Olympics.
Despite her determination, the severity of the injury ultimately prevented her from competing at the Paris Games.
The accident also had an emotional impact on the other athletes competing in the final.
The competition was temporarily interrupted while medical personnel treated Chevrier. Fellow competitors were visibly affected by what had happened, illustrating the risks athletes can face even during highly competitive international sporting events.
British pole vaulter Molly Caudery eventually won the women’s final after the competition resumed. Caudery later spoke about the emotional difficulty of returning to competition after witnessing Chevrier’s injury.
For Chevrier, the injury marked the beginning of a long rehabilitation process.
Rather than ending her athletic career, however, the serious accident became part of a lengthy comeback journey.
She underwent extensive rehabilitation and eventually returned to competition in 2025. Her return represented a significant milestone after months of treatment and recovery.
Chevrier continued competing at the highest level and remained committed to rebuilding her career.
In January 2026, she announced a change of club, leaving Nice Côte d’Azur Athlétisme after more than 13 years and joining Stade Bordelais. The move represented another chapter in her career as she continued working toward a return to her previous level.
The French athlete’s story has therefore become one of resilience as much as injury.
What initially appeared to be a devastating setback became the beginning of a long rehabilitation and comeback process.
Chevrier’s experience also highlights the physical demands and risks associated with pole vaulting, an event that requires athletes to combine speed, strength, timing and precision while launching themselves several metres into the air.
A small error during take-off or landing can have serious consequences.
The Glasgow accident remains one of the most memorable moments of the 2024 World Indoor Championships, not because of the competition result but because of the seriousness of Chevrier’s injury and the emotional response it generated throughout the arena.
For Chevrier, however, the story did not end that evening.
Her subsequent rehabilitation and return to competition demonstrated her determination to continue pursuing her athletic ambitions.
As of 2026, reports indicate that she remains active in athletics and is continuing her career with Stade Bordelais.
The Glasgow accident was undoubtedly a painful chapter in her sporting journey, but it ultimately became part of a broader story of recovery, perseverance and determination.
Margot Chevrier’s experience serves as a reminder of the risks elite athletes face while competing at the highest level and of the extraordinary resilience required to return after a major injury.
Rather than an obituary, her Glasgow story is one of survival and comeback — a serious injury that interrupted her career but did not end her ambitions.
Her continued presence in competitive athletics stands as a testament to the determination that helped her overcome one of the most difficult moments of her career.
