French star Youna Dufournet sustained a knee injury during her bar routine at the French National Championships last weekend, L'Equipe newspaper is reporting.
Dufournet, who won a silver on vault at last month's European Championships, was the heavy favorite to winthe French title last week in Albertville. Dufournet led after the qualifying round, but twisted her knee as she landed on the mat after falling on her Def (full-twisting Geinger). She was carried off the mat by her coach, who was standing in to spot the element.
Dufournet hit her bar routine -- Def included -- during event finals at the European Championships but was deducted 0.5 because her coach inadvertently touched her as she grabbed the bar. The deduction cost her the bronze medal on bars.
Dufournet's coach Marc Chilenco told L'Equipe that a doctor believed the ligaments in Dufournet's knee are intact, but that the injury was "a compression of the meniscus." Dufournet underwent surgery for a torn meniscus at the end of last year.
Dufournet, who has had a few scary falls in international competitions in the past, has appeared more in control of her gymnastics during the past eight months. Her results include the bronze medal on vault at the 2009 World Championships, gold on vault and bronze on bars at the 2010 French International and silver on vault last month in Birmingham.
After Dufournet's withdrawal, the French women's title was won by newcomer Marine Brevet, ahead of Aurelie Malaussena and veteran Rose Eliandre Bellemare. On the men's side, Hamilton Sabot won the all-around, followed by Cyril Tommasone and Arnaud Willig.
Jim Zona and Doriane Thobie won the French junior men's and women's titles, respectively.
Related: French National Championships, full results
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