Record-breaking gymnast Oksana Chusovitina, 48, announced that an injury has ended her quest to qualify for her ninth Olympics. The injury occurred during a floor exercise practice ahead of the Asian Championships in Uzbekistan, her last chance to qualify for the upcoming Paris Olympics.
A heartfelt statement
In an Instagram post, Chusovitina expressed her disappointment: “I will not be able to take part and I am very upset as I have been preparing for this competition for a long time.” Despite her setback, she pledged to support the Uzbekistan team throughout the competition.
Oksana Chusovitina: A legend in gymnastics
Chusovitina’s career is remarkable, especially in gymnastics, where athletes’ careers often peak in their teens. She has competed alongside gymnasts a third of her age and remains one of the few active athletes who represented the Soviet Union, winning world championship gold in 1991 at age 16.
Olympic achievements
Chusovitina won an Olympic gold medal in 1992 with the Unified Team of post-Soviet nations and a silver in vault in 2008, representing Germany. She holds the distinction of being the second female Olympian to compete in eight Games, surpassed only by Georgian shooter Nino Salukvadze.
Chusovitina has retired and returned multiple times throughout her career. Following her recent injury, she made no definitive statement about her future. Previously, at the Asian Games in September, she hinted at the possibility of continuing her career: “If next year I can’t qualify, maybe I will give up my career. Or maybe not. But I do not want to give you a conclusion now.”