Koji Yamamuro injured and skip men’s all-around
Londo (GBR) AGU Office August 01, 2012: Japanese gymnast Koji Yamamuro will sit out the men’s all-around individual competition after injuring his left foot during Monday’s team final at the London Olympics, the Japanese delegation said Tuesday.
The 23-year-old, a team silver medallist at the last two world championships, finished with a back somersault but landed on his face and knees. He was helped off, hopping on his right foot.
Yamamuro, who won bronze medals on the rings and in the all-round competition at the 2011 world championships, could now be in doubt for Wednesday’s all-around individual final, for which he qualified in 18th place.
For the all-around final on Wednesday, Kazuhito Tanaka will take the place of Yamamuro, who suffered a chip fracture on the instep after an awkward landing on the vault during the team contest in which Japan took the silver medal.
Yamamuro had been a medal hope for Japan, along with teammate and three-time all-around world champion Kohei Uchimura, as he finished third in the men’s all-around competition at last year’s world championships.
The injury is expected to take about two months to heal completely, according to the Japanese Olympic Committee.
