| | Associated Press
BOSTON -- The most decorated female gymnast in U.S. history
had her knee buckle and her Olympic hopes cave in Sunday night.
|  | | Shannon Miller came out of retirement in hopes of making her third Olympic team, but her bid ended with a twisted knee. |
Two-time Olympian Shannon Miller of Oklahoma pulled out of the
Olympic gymnastics trials after jamming her knee on her opening
vault.
She said there was "really no injury," and vowed that she was
still in the running for a spot on the Olympic team.
But Bela Karolyi had the final say on that, and his conclusion
was that Miller -- injury prone since her latest return -- could not
be depended upon at the Olympics in Sydney.
"I wish she had decided to start back earlier and pick up more
physical fitness," Karolyi said. "But considering her physical
status, it's hard to consider her ready for the full speed and full
pressure of the Olympics."
Thus, the last gamble by coach Steve Nunno came up empty.
Doctors had cleared Miller to return to the meet, but Nunno felt
pulling her out and putting no more strain on her hurting legs
would be the best chance.
"I made an executive decision to pull out," Nunno said. "In
my mind, it was the obvious thing to do when you look at it from a
strategic standpoint."
But it didn't work. And Miller got left behind, while fellow
1996 Olympians Amy Chow and Dominique Dawes advanced.
Still, the disappointment cannot overshadow the most successful
career in U.S. women's gymnastics history.
Miller, of Edmond, won seven medals over two Olympics and had
gone happily into retirement and married life after the most recent
success at the Atlanta Games.
Then, like four other members of that '96 team, she got the itch
again.
She came back in January, a slow, steady progression that seemed
to be taking hold once the big-time competitions began six months
later.
However, a hairline crack in her right leg slowed the progress
last month. She competed in one event at U.S. nationals, scoring a
9.650 in the uneven bars, just enough to keep her career alive for
a shot at trials.
She came back with a 9.712 on the bars Friday night, but no
other routines stood out.
During the first rotation Sunday, her career ended.
Her knee buckled on the vault landing of a roundoff, back-flip
with a half turn. She crumpled to the mat. Nunno and Karolyi rushed
to her side.
After walking gingerly off the mat, she decided to do her second
vault. Her landing was awkward there, too, and she came off
limping, fighting back tears. Nunno had to help her down the stairs
and back down the runway.
They went to the training room shortly after. Miller returned to
the floor and grabbed her warmup suit, then headed over to the
uneven bars, where she was supposed to compete next.
But there would be no more for the champion. She could barely
walk. A few hours later, she spent the tense 12 minutes after the
competition in the waiting room with the rest of her teammates,
anticipating Karolyi's decision.
As expected, her name wasn't called. Before the decision came
down, Nunno said he wouldn't petition any further. His only option
now would be to file a grievance with USA Gymnastics.
"This is the most disappointing event in our career," Nunno
said.
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ALSO SEE
U.S. Gymnastics roster
Dawes and Chow in, but Miller will miss Sydney
Vanessa Atler is not America's darling this time
Women's gymnastics results
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