Injury forces Lauren Mitchell out of Australian Championships

Lauren Mitchell leaped to silver on beam at the 2009 World Championships.

AP Photo/Matt Dunham

An adductor strain will keep double World silver medalist Lauren Mitchell from competing at the Australian National championships July 8-11 in Perth, Gymnastics Australia is reporting.

Mitchell has had rotten luck since winning silvers on balance beam and floor exercise in London last October. She sustained a broken hand in December, then sprained her ankle tumbling earlier this spring.

The injury reportedly does not affect Mitchell's ability to do her hardest moves, but splits and straddle jumps are problematic, so she'll be taking it easy in order not to aggravate the injury.

Mitchell's goals remain competing at the Commonwealth Games and World Championships, both of which will take place in October.

“I’m very disappointed that I can’t defend my Australian title in Perth next week,” Mitchell told Gymnastics Australia, “however I remain positive and I still have my sights set on the Commonwealth Games and World Championships later this year.”

Unlike Great Britain, Australia does not seem worried about its best gymnasts contracting Delhi belly in India and likely views the Commonwealth Games as an opportunity for its stars to get more international exposure.

The nationals in Perth will also serve as part of the selection process for the Commonwealth Games, according to Gymnastics Australia. But given their press release, it sounds as though Mitchell will have a chance to make her case for inclusion on the team at a "full performance trial" in September.

Here's Lauren in a 2010 Commonwealth Games commercial. Is it just me or does she look a lot like Olessia Dudnik in profile?

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