The word at Worlds from Alexander Alexandrov was that Aliya Mustafina has progressed so far following her ACL tear in April that the Russians are thinking about allowing her compete again -- and before the year is out.
In order for Mustafina's comeback to really be complete, she needs to travel to Munich one more time for a last checkup with the German specialist who operated on her in the spring, Alexandrov said through a translator in Tokyo. (The same doctor also operated on Viktoria Komova's ankle later in the spring.)
If given a clean bill of health, Mustafina may show up at the Abierto Mexicano de Gimnasia, which is taking place in Acapulco December 9-10. (The competition poster certainly seems to indicate that Mustafina will make an appearance.) In Tokyo, Alexandrov didn't name the meet Mustafina would be in, though he did say that she might compete "in November or December."
Mustafina has been chomping at the bit to get back to big gymnastics, Alexandrov added, noting that the 2010 World champion was "very upset" when told only a week before Worlds that she would not compete there.
If competing eight months after tearing an ACL seems a tad soon, we can think of 2004 Olympic vault silver medalist Annia Hatch, who was able to do this less than a year after tearing her ACL at the 2003 Worlds. Mustafina may yet return as strong as she was, whether it happens in December or closer to the Olympics.
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