Although an injury will keep her from competing at this weekend's Ghent World Cup, Belgian star Aagje Vanwalleghem is committed to making a strong showing in Tokyo next month -- and at the 2013 World Championships in Antwerp.
Van Welleghem, sixth all-around at the 2009 European Championships, told French newspaper Les Dessous du Sport that a stress fracture sustained during a training camp in France will keep her from competing in Ghent. (The competition will feature many international stars, including Fabian Hambuechen, Victoria Komova, Maria Paseka, Diego Hypolito, Daiane dos Santos, Zou Kai and Huang Qiushuang.)
Vanwalleghem said she was naturally disappointed not to compete before her home crowd this weekend, butwill be back in time for a friendly pre-Worlds meet in the Netherlands before heading to Tokyo. In her stead, Belgium will be represented by two promising young gymnasts, Terry Gand'ry and Johanna DeJardin.
Brazilian-born Vanwalleghem, who was adopted by Belgian parents when she was two months old, orginially planned to retire after the 2012 Olympics, but reconsidered when the FIG announced that the 2013 Worlds would take place in Belgium.
"I'm already 24, which is old in our sport," Vanwelleghem told the paper. "But since the 2013 Worlds are happening here in Belgium, I decided to continue for an extra year."
Vanwelleghem has been part of the Belgian gymnastics Renaissance currently happening under former French coach Yves Kieffer, though her success began before Kieffer arrived. (As Ariella Kaeslin during Kieffer's brief tenure in Switzerland, Vanwalleghem initially refused to work with Kieffer.)
Vanwalleghem will have an additional opportunity to perform for her countrymen and women at the 2012 European Championships, which will be held May 9-13 in Brussels. The Brussels Euros will be for women only -- the 2012 men's Europeans will take place two weeks later in Montpellier, France.
Related: Check out young Belgian up-and-comer Johanna Dejardin on beam at the 2010 Elite Massilia here.
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