Shewfelt Out of Worlds

Print

Comment

E-mail This Article to a Friend To: Bcc: Your e-mail address: Message:

2004 Olympic floor exercise champion Kyle Shewfelt (Canada) will miss the upcoming world championships after breaking his knees during training on Monday in Stuttgart.

Shewfelt suffered small fractures to both knees during a landing on floor exercise. He is expected to be out six to eight weeks. The Canadian men will compete in Subdivision 2 on Sept. 4.

At the 2006 World Championships, the Canadian men's team placed a best-ever fifth place in preliminaries and sixth in the team final. The top 12 teams in Stuttgart qualify full teams to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

2006 world team member Adam Wong has been called to Stuttgart to serve as the team alternate. Wong, who suffered a torn Achilles tendon in March, said he would be able to compete four events if needed in Stuttgart.

"Kyle was a very important part of the team, and contributed a lot to our overall score," Wong told IG on Monday evening. "However, we still have six very strong gymnasts who are capable of a great team finish. They are all very well prepared for this competition, and it will definitely show on Sept. 4th."

Shewfelt, the defending world bronze medalist on men's floor exercise, had told The Calgary Sun he had a new, more complex routine planned for Stuttgart.

"It is ultra-difficult, yes, and it kills me every time I do it, but I love doing it," Shewfelt told The Sun. "I have my sights set on doing something no one else does."