After celebrating five years of marriage on March 24, a gut-wrenching update came from a 30-year-old American-born British track and field star. You know how social media shows all the highlight reels? Well, turns out, the reality was a lot tougher behind the scenes. Despite being a 3x Olympian, this athlete just revealed some heartbreaking news—she won’t be competing in 2025. And honestly? This one hits hard for fans who’ve been cheering her on through thick and thin.
Yep, it’s Cindy Sember. The British record holder in the 100m hurdles, who’s given her all on the track, is taking a break. Owens dropped the bombshell on X, saying her words from her YT vlog, “I am not competing this year.” But that wasn’t all—she got real in a recent YouTube vlog, explaining, “There are a lot of reasons behind that, but ultimately, I just need a break from sports—mentally and physically—which has led me to this decision.” And here’s the thing: it’s not just about the physical toll. Cindy’s been fighting a battle with her mental health that most people never see.
“I am not competing this year.”
British record holder in the 100m hurdles Cindy Sember has recently announced that she won’t be competing in 2025, stating that she wants a break from the sport, and it is in her best interest both mentally and physically.
She hasn’t retired… pic.twitter.com/k2sSd4CknC
— Owen (@_OwenM_) March 24, 2025
The pressure to stay at the top, the constant grind, and the emotional rollercoaster that comes with elite-level track and field competition have taken a heavy toll. Cindy’s been carrying the weight of expectations, trying to push through it all, but sometimes, even the strongest need to step back. In her vlog, she admitted, “I’m just going through a season of stepping back, and I think it’s what I really, really need.” And honestly? She’s absolutely right. Mental exhaustion is just as real—and just as draining—as physical fatigue. So, no indoor or outdoor season for Cindy in 2025. Does that mean she is retiring?
She made that part crystal clear: “I’m not retired. I’m not saying this is the end of Cindy on the track, but this is a break.” Fans have watched her devastating fall at the Paris Olympics during which she failed to qualify for the final race of the 100m hurdles. Since her fall in the Paris Olympics, bad luck seems to be continuously interfering with her success in track and field. So, what happened to her in the Paris Olympics?
Emotional fallout hits the track and field star hard
During last summer’s Paris Olympic event, Cindy Sember endured a heartbreaking defeat that track and field spectators never wished for. In her appearance at the women’s 100m hurdles semi-final, she performed remarkably well at the beginning. Her speed increased with every hurdle she passed. Her path to the final race appeared promising until tragedy happened unexpectedly.
The seventh hurdle pole acted as an obstacle as her trailing foot stumbled into it resulting in an unbalanced fall. The eighth hurdle rejected her attempt to regain balance as she fell directly onto the track surface. And just like that, her Olympic future came to an abrupt end at this moment.
After the race, an emotional Sember told the BBC, “I’m ok. I’m really sad. I’m just frustrated because I had been training so hard, I was ready—I’m sad.” Even though she managed to walk away without serious injuries, the emotional fallout was something else. She slammed her fist into the track, clearly devastated, before lying down with her hands covering her head, completely gutted.
Later, this track and field athlete admitted, “I was very ready, it was a little hard to take in. But I’m trusting God in it.” But that heartbreak didn’t just end on the track. The weight of that moment stuck with her long after Paris, taking a serious toll on her mental health. Looking back, that fall was more than just a stumble—it was the beginning of a journey that led her to make the tough decision to take a break from competing in 2025. And honestly? After everything she’s been through, who could blame her for choosing to take a step back and focus on herself?
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