Kimmie Meissner
Photo: David W. Carmichael

Injuries continue to hamper Kimmie Meissner's road back to competition.  The 2006 World champion and 2007 U.S. champion announced today her decision to withdraw from the two Grand Prix series events that she was given this season.  This latest setback follows on the heels of a hip injury that forced her to withdraw from Nationals last season.  Meissner was scheduled to compete at the Rostelecom Cup and the NHK Trophy in a few weeks.

"For the United States to be represented properly, especially during an Olympic year, I feel I must put my personal desire to compete aside," Meissner said. 

She is recovering and rehabilitating from severe patellar tendonitis and a dislocated right knee, which is the one she lands on.  But her training time has been cut short due to the injury and she is not ready for competition.

Meissner did not receive an automatic invitation to the 2010 U.S. National Championships because she did not place in the top five at last season's Nationals (she withdrew) and did not medal at either the most recent Worlds or Olympic Games.  She received a bye that was contingent on competing on the Grand Prix series.  But now that she has withdrawn, the bye is no longer valid.  And since medical byes are not granted, Meissner will miss Nationals.

Meissner can still petition to be selected for the Olympic team in January - Nancy Kerrigan was chosen for the Lillehammer in 1994 and Michelle Kwan was chosen for Turino in 2006 as a result of their petitions due to injury.  However, given her lack of competition experience since the 2008 World Championships, it is quite unlikely that she would be granted a berth onto the team.