The bubbly Australian gymnast won’t be competing in 2009, according to The West Asutralian:
The WAIS scholarship holder has spent the past nine months hoping a torn ligament in her ankle would heal naturally.
But she now has to resort to surgery which will sideline her for the rest of the year.
And even then there is no guarantee she will return to the competition floor even though the 19-year-old is determined to give all in her bid to make the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi next year and the London Olympics in 2012.
WAIS coaching staff don’t believe the injury should be career-ending and in Joura’s case, her ability to learn skills quicker than most, will count in her favour.
“Historically, she has learnt new skills very easily but more critical will be whether she can get herself into the right physical shape to resume where she left off,” WAIS head of gymnastics Liz Chetkovich said. “It will be hard once she gets back into training and she will have to be realistic and keep her expectations in perspective.”
Joura was a possible all-around contender in Beijing before her ankle injury and is the most wildly successful female gymnast Australia’s ever had.
It’s painful to watch the routine she injured the ankle on. Nonetheless, here it is:
Daria Joura, 2008 Olympic Games Team Prelims, Floor Exercise:
June 1, 2009 at 4:19 pm |
That did look painful. I hope she is able to rehab her ankle after but it will be a lot of work. Good luck to her!
June 1, 2009 at 5:27 pm |
Poor she
I believe she will return!!!
Vanessa Ferrari is goinig to have a surgey too…
June 2, 2009 at 6:06 am |
Just a clarification, Dasha’s ankle was injured in a Beijing training session prior to team prelims. It was aggravated by the floor routine, Australia’s first apparatus in the preliminary competition.
She is “putting a red flag” on PacRim 2010, hoping to be well in time to compete there. Fingers crossed, as it’s in Melbourne and I’d love to see her!