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Rehabbing from an ankle injury he suffered in training at last summer's Olympic Games, world and World Cup medalist Brandon O'Neill of Canada told IG this week he plans to compete on all six events at the upcoming Canadian Championships.  Brandon O'Neill (Canada) "I started training full-strength on my ankle in April, and even now I am still not 100 percent," said O'Neill, who won the silver medal on floor at the 2005 World Championships and the bronze medal on floor at the 2006 World Cup Final. "I am about 70 percent at this point and improving daily." Prior to the start of competition at the Olympics in Beijing, O'Neill injured his left ankle on a full-in at the end of his final tumbling pass on floor exercise. The diagnosis was two fractures, two sprained ligaments and a bone chip. O'Neill competed in Beijing regardless, including floor exercise and vault. The 24-year-old O'Neill said he has benefited from his time away from competition since last summer. "Until December I was completely off my ankle, and throughout I have regularly had physio(therapy) and now have to wear a brace when training," he said. "I have had more time to spend conditioning and rehabilitating so I am able to continue in the sport." O'Neill said he continues to focus on his "main events" (floor, vault and parallel bars), but intends to compete on all six events at the Canadian Championships that will take place May 29-June 6 in Hamilton, Ont. On floor, O'Neill said his routine in Hamilton is likely to be basic, as it will be his first floor routine since his injury. His planned tumbling passes include 2-1/2 twist, punch front layout-full; 1-1/2 twist, punch double-twisting front; triple twist; front 1-3/4; and Arabian double front. O'Neill said he is cautiously optimistic about his complete recovery for the World Championships that will take place Oct. 12-18 in London. "By the time World Championships come around, I plan on competing 100 percent, but will not know the outcome until after nationals," he told IG. International Gymnast Magazine Related Features
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