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Worley Suffers Leg Fracture

Friday, July 18, 2008 By Amanda Turner
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Shayla Worley

2007 U.S. world team member Shayla Worley is out of Olympic contention with a leg fracture, according to the AP.

Worley, a member of the U.S. team that won gold at the 2007 Worlds in Stuttgart, broke her right fibula Friday while warming up for the Olympic selection camp competition at the Karolyi ranch in Houston.

The 17-year-old Worley had been struggling with leg pain when she arrived at the ranch. During warmups for balance beam, she said she heard something "pop." X-rays confirmed the fracture.

Worley missed the U.S. Championships in June because of a herniated disc in her back, but competed three events at the U.S. Trials two weeks later.

World champions Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin were nominated to the U.S. Olympic team after the trials. In addition to Worley, nine other gymnasts are in Houston competing for the remaining four spots on the team that will compete next month in Beijing.

Also on Friday, veteran Chellsie Memmel ended her floor routine after second pass, fearing she had suffered a back or neck injury. Memmel, third all-around at the trials, skipped vault and uneven bars but recovered well enough to compete on balance beam.

The U.S. team will be announced Saturday evening, following a second day of competition at the ranch.

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Comments (4 posted):

Baldemar Rios on Friday, July 18, 2008
I'm 99% sure Shayla will not, in fact, make the Olympic team.
tlclatino2000 on Saturday, July 19, 2008
can someone tell me why the US takes so long to select the athletes they "already know" they will select? it is a waste of time plus other athletes (like Memmel) can get hurt. they need to be fresh before such a big competition like the olympics!!!
tripleback on Monday, July 21, 2008
while I feel bad for Shayla, I have to think it was stupid for her to continue training all-around with her already injured back. Why was a girl with an injury as serious as a herniated disc vaulting and tumbling??? Her coaches and her family were so arrogant to assume she would be on the team that they didn't stop to think about her health.
USGoingforGold on Monday, July 21, 2008
Or, tripleback, maybe they just wanted the Olympics so badly that they were willing to risk it. Shayla and her family knew the risks and weighed their options. Just like Eric Shanteau, the swimmer, who is putting off cancer treatment so he can swim in the Olympics. He knows what that could possibly do to his body. Besides, every time a gymnast steps on the floor, they know they can be injured to any degree. It's the nature of the sport. Shayla's back doesn't have anything to do with this injury.

I do feel bad for her. With her injuries, I wasn't sure whether I wanted her on the team or not, but it has got to sting something terrible to break your leg the day before they announce the team. I hope she continues in gymnastics at some level and, most importantly, recovers well.

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