U.S. gymnast Nastia Liukin’s comeback was cut short this past week when she took a nasty spill during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Sunday and bid her chances of representing the United States in London farewell.
Liukin, a star during the 2008 Beijing competition when she took home the all-around gold medal, took the spill while in San Jose trying out for the 2012 U.S. Olympic team.
She was on the uneven bars, for which she won a silver medal in 2008, when she missed the bars and landed on her face. The veteran laid motionless for a few moments and then shook it off, got up and finished her routine. Liukin waved to the crowd, who reportedly gave her a standing ovation.
She later took to Facebook to thank the fans, friends and her parents.
“Thank you to the 18,000 people that gave me a standing ovation tonight. I will remember this moment for the rest of my life. I am overwhelmed by the love and support,” read the facebook post. “I would have never imagined anything like this… Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. And most importantly…Thank you to my parents & special people in my life that always kept me calm, believed in me & shown their love & support. Xo NL ♥.”
Nastia will not head to London to compete where, according to ABC, she hoped to become the first Olympic champ to return to the games since Nadia Comaneci in 1980. The five girls that will represent the United States in London this summer are Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman, Kyla Ross, Jordyn Wieber and McKayla Maroney.
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