Memmel hurts ankle, but still expected to compete

[August 04, 2008]  BEIJING (AP) -- American gymnast Chellsie Memmel hurt her right ankle while training on the floor exercise Sunday but is still expected to compete in Olympic team competition next weekend.

USA Gymnastics president Steve Penny said in a statement that Memmel's status was being monitored daily. The U.S. women compete in team qualifying next Sunday.

"We're taking things a day at a time but I was able to do good bars today. ..." Memmel said in a statement.

Their three alternates, Ivana Hong, Jana Bieger and Corrie Lothrop, are training in Tokyo, available to make the 3 1/2-hour flight to Beijing if needed.

Memmel is the 2005 world champion but has fought through a series of injuries during her career. A broken foot caused her to miss the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

More recently, she has struggled with shoulder and foot injuries, but came back in time for the Olympic qualifying period and impressed Karolyi, the team coordinator, to easily make the team.

Memmel is no longer the headliner -- Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin are the front line of this squad -- but having a former world champion as the third-best gymnast is one reason the Americans, the defending world champions, are widely considered the favorites to win this year.

[Associated Press]

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