gymnasts out of Worlds

Gym Blog Brazil compiled a partial list of possible Worlds contenders who will not be in Antwerp. Most of them injured, or recovering from injury.

Gabriella Douglas – CAN
Viktoria Komova – RUS
Evgeniya Shelgunova – RUS
Ksenia Afanasyeva – RUS
Diana Bulimar – ROM
Erika Fasana – ITA
Elizabetta Preziosa – ITA
Giorgia Camapana – ITA
Katelyn Ohasi – USA
Lexia Priessmann – USA
Madison Kocian – USA
Jonathan Horton – USA
Danell Leyva – USA
Chris Brooks – USA
Nadina Jarosch – GER
Lisa Hill – GER
Kim Bui – GER
Janine Berger – GER
Marcel Nguyen – GER
Ana Lago – MEX
Céline van Gerner – NED
Lisa Top – NED
Gabby Jupp – GBR
Adrian Gomes – BRA
Jade Barbosa – BRA
Julie Croket – BEL
Maria Livchikova – UKR

Is this more than usual?

I’m not sure. Artistic Gymnastics is a very dangerous sport. At any given moment something like 1/3 of elite Senior women are unable to train full out.

Of all World Championships, the year after the Olympics is least important. Top athletes missing Antwerp don’t feel they are letting down their “team”.

Olympic medalists Marcel Nguyen and Danell Leyva voluntarily withdrew their names from consideration.

I recall when Kyle Shewfelt requested to skip this Worlds. He wanted a “training year” in the quadrennial. That turned out to be a good move for him.

Not only injury.

…Another serious concern for a Russian National Team …

Andrei Rodionenko:

‘Our training centre ‘Ozero Krugloe’ has somehow received a very serious virus. The whole women’s team has suffered from it to a different degree. Even the most tough ones have fallen ill’ –

That’s an interesting interview. I wish Andrei spoke to the media more.