Imke Glas

Personal life

Glas was born on August 30, 1994, in Broek op Langedijk, Netherlands. She lives with both of her parents and two siblings.

Junior career

Glas began gymnastics at the age of three when her parents decided to take her to the local gym, BSV / ODIS. Glas was one of the most promising junior elite gymnast for the Dutch Junior National Team and was well on her way to competing at the 2008 European Junior Gymnastic Championships. However, that promising future was all threatened at the young age of thirteen.

The Accident

On October 26, 2007 Glas was severely injured in an accident on vault. While in training, Glas was performing a round-off half-on, or a variation of the Yurchenko type vault, when her hands missed the vault table and she fell on her head. She severely damaged her sixth and seventh cervical vertebrae, therefore warranting extensive surgery. She had to endure six hours of surgery where neurosurgeons took a piece of her hip bone and placed it in her neck for stabilization. After surgery Glas and her family were told that she would never walk again, but Glas made a full recovery.

Competitive History

Date Event Results PointsONTARIO REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPSDecember 15, 2002 1st league match at GV Turn Lust in Huizen 2nd place 34,350February 2, 2003 2nd league match in Schagen 2nd place 36,280March 23, 2003 3rd league match 2nd place 35,450April 6, 2003 Final League Match Region NH 1st place 37,575February 14, 2004 NH Region Championships 1st place 35,875February 26, 2005 NH Region Championships 1st place 36,400DUTCH CHAMPIONSHIPS ENTRY NWS11/12 January 2003 1st to race in 't Bon Opmeer 2nd place 35,375January 25, 2003 2nd to race in Beverwijk 5th place 34,525April 12, 2003 Houses in quarter finals 2nd place 36,008April 26, 2003 Semifinals in Boxtel 1st place 37,833May 24, 2003 Final in Utrecht 2nd place 37,225SIDIJK TOURNAMENTFebruary 9, 2003 Tournament in Heerenveen 1st place 35,758February 8, 2004 Tournament in Heerenveen 3rd place 35,350OJTSSeptember 7, 2003 Beekbergen 1st place 166 pntOctober 4, 2004 Beekbergen 1st place 179 pntDUTCH CHAMPIONSHIPS TOP PUPILS 1March 21, 2004 1st race placement in Aalsmeer 2nd place 35,700April 4, 2004 2nd race in placement Goes 1st place 36,275April 17, 2004 3rd placing match in Hellevoetsluis 8th place 34,525June 6, 2004 Semifinals in Valkenswaard 3rd place 36,025June 20, 2004 Final in Nijmegen 7th place 37,250DUTCH CHAMPIONSHIPS TOP PUPILS 2March 13, 2005 1st race placement in Budel 1st place 35,904April 23, 2005 2nd placement match in Breda dispensationMay 29, 2005 3rd race in placement dispensation June 5, 2005 Semifinal sport in Huizen 23rd place 9,400June 18, 2005 Final Topsport in Nijmegen 5th place 35,987