Tweddle will miss Melbourne 2006
14th March 2006Team England gymnast Beth Tweddle has been told this afternoon (Wednesday) that the right ankle injury she sustained in training yesterday is serious enough to keep her out of the gymnastics competition at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.
Tweddle landed awkwardly during podium training yesterday and damaged ligaments which will need intensive physiotherapy and rehabilitation over several weeks before she can train again.
She would have competed in the women’s team and individual competitions and was considered a medal hope in both.
She will now re-focus her attention on the European Championships in six weeks time.
“As soon as I did it I knew that there was something wrong,” she said. “We’ve had some scans done today and I’ve found out that I can’t compete.
“I just knew that as I took off on the vault it didn’t feel right on the board. On landing the impact hit me and my coach pulled me off to one side for immediate medical attention.
“It’s a big disappointment, I was looking forward to competing here and I’ve been working hard towards this for the past six months.”
Tweddle, who comes from Bunbury in Cheshire, won bronze medals in the asymmetric bars at the 2003 World Championships in Anaheim, USA, and at the 2005 World Championships, held in Melbourne in November. She also finished just outside the medals in fourth in the all-around competition at last year’s World Championships.
The 20-year-old gymnast said she will stay in Melbourne to cheer on and help her Team England team-mates.
“As team captain I will be staying on to cheer the others on and keep their spirits high, I’ll leave my disappointment behind me and concentrate on supporting them,” she said.