12 Athletes Who Injured Themselves Celebrating
For all the toxic masculinity in professional sports, they sure do get away with a lot of pageantry.
Lindsey Vonn: Alpine Ski World Championships
Vonn was having trouble uncorking the champagne while celebrating multiple wins at the 2009 World Championships. Someone tried to fish the cork out with a ski, which, predictably, shattered the bottle. Vonn didn’t see it happen, so when she grabbed the bottle, she sliced open her thumb and needed stitches.
Maurides Roque Junior: Internacional
After scoring his first professional goal, the 19-year-old Brazilian football player unleashed an intricately choreographed celebration dance. He nailed the cartwheels, but botched the backflip, and had to be carted off the field with a sprained knee.
Chris Coghlan: Miami Marlins
Fresh off of being named National League Rookie of the Year, he was told to hit teammate Wes Helms with a shaving-cream pie to the face after he won the game with a single. While carrying out his pie duties, he tore his meniscus and was out for two months.
Ted Ginn Jr.: Ohio Buckeyes
The kick returner ran back the opening kickoff for a touchdown in the 2007 National Championship, and was promptly tackled by a teammate. He missed the rest of the game due to a sprained ankle.
Kendry Morales: Los Angeles Angels
In 2010, he hit a walk-off grand slam to beat the Mariners 5-1. When he hopped onto home plate to cement the win, he slipped and broke his freaking leg.
Rob Johnson: Seattle Mariners
The catcher hurt himself celebrating someone else’s walk-off home run in 2009. Ichiro Suzuki hit a dinger, and while he was waiting for Suzuki to round the bases, Johnson sprained his ankle jumping up and down in the batter’s box like an NPC.
Derrek Lee: Chicago Cubs
While celebrating a game-tying run in 2009, Lee returned to the dugout to receive some high-fives and back pats. The team’s relief pitcher gave him an overzealous bonk on the noggin, leaving Lee with neck spasms that kept him out of two games.
Thomas Levet: French Open
The golfer won the 2011 Open in dramatic fashion, and sprinted into the water hazard on the 18th green. He fractured his shin in the process, and had to miss seven weeks of competition and give up his spot at the British Open.
Bill Gramatica: Arizona Cardinals
In 2001, the rookie kicker nailed a 43-yard field goal, jumped up in the air, and tore his ACL the moment he landed. He had to sit the rest of the season.
Jeff Baker: Texas Rangers
After scoring a run in 2018, he was running through a line of congratulations and got high-fived into the injury report. He wouldn’t reveal who did it, but said, “It is what it is. He feels terrible about it.”
Gus Frerotte: Washington Redskins
The quarterback scored a one-yard touchdown against the New York Giants, sprinted a wide victory arc out of the end zone, and intentionally headbutted a wall. He had to be helped back to the sideline by his trainers, and while he made it back in for the next offensive drive, he was taken to the hospital at halftime for a sprained neck.
Paulo Diogo: Servette FC
In 2004, the Portuguese football player chalked up an assist in the 87th minute, and went to visit his fans in the stands. He jumped up onto a fence, and his wedding ring got caught as he came down, popping off part of his finger like he was made of LEGOs. Worst of all, he was given a yellow card for excessive celebration.