Romania’s star gymnast and All Around medal hopeful Larisa Iordache has been reportedly diagnosed with the foot condition Fasciitis – an inflammatory condition of the fascia (connective tissue) of the foot. This comes after Gymnastike reported that Iordache, like Maroney of the USA, sat out the majority of training yesterday morning. So something is definitely up with Iordache. Gymnastike reported:
In observing training today in the North Greenwich Academy, Larisa Iordache’s status is in question. The Romanians began their training on floor where Iordache warmed up tumbling passes with her teammates. She did a few passes and seemed to struggle with her whip to triple full, training a few whip to double twists, and getting feedback from the coaches. Then, every Romanian gymnast except for Iordache practiced one full floor routine. She sat on the sidelines opposite of the rest of her team. She did not appear to be injured. She just sat quietly as her the rest of her teammates continued to train floor.
This is shocking because Iordache is one of the team’s best floor workers, could contend for a spot in the floor final, and is one of the favorites for the Olympic all around title. After missing World team medals the past two years, many consider the Romanians strong contenders for a medal here in London with an outside shot at gold. Larisa Iordache is a big factor in that.The team then went to vault, again without their young star. Iordache instead got ready for bars and tried to stay busy stretching. She had a talk with the assistant coach and teared up. After vault, head coach Octavian Belu talked with Iorache for a few minutes. She looked upset, he appeared frustrated.The team went on to bars. Iordache joined back with the team and performed two full, hit uneven bar routines. She is by far the top Romanian uneven bar worker. She did not hold back on her full in dismount, but Belu looked displeased with the landing position, showing her a nice squat position, and having her mimic the same for him. Belu pulled her aside and had her run up and back down the side of the bars training area as he watched closely. She appeared to be jogging normally.
It is important that countries take precuations for their stars who have big chances of winning medals, from experience, rest is great for Fasciitis. If true, Fasciitis is not a sudden onset injury, it’s more than likely a niggling condition that Iordache has been dealing with. The Romanians sat out evening training last night, so perhaps the rest has helepd. They take to the North Greenwich Arena this evening for their podium training. It’s likely that with anti- inflammatories and painkillers that Iordache could compete but perhaps not to her full capacity. No official announcement from the Romanian Gymnastics Federation as yet.
Read more (in Romanian) here.
