THE Manx Commonwealth Games team has been dealt another blow after a gymnast has been forced to pull out after suffering a serious injury to his leg.
Gymnast Joe Smith, 22, tore the Achilles tendon in his left leg while completing a final training session on Monday evening.
Ruth Cooil, team physio, said: "I really feel for Joe. Having worked with him for most of the build up to these Games I know that he’s made huge sacrifices to get here. It’s tragic for him to get injured just five days away from the biggest competition of his life."
Joe said: "I was just doing a regular move, a standard move, nothing different. I was just starting my floor routine. I’d done my first tumble but when I went up from my next take-off I heard something snap. I realised that I had lost rotation and managed to land on my side. As I lay there, my first thought was to get up and finish the routine, but then the pain hit me and I just grabbed my leg."
Haresh Measuria, team manager for gymnastics, was with Joe throughout. He said "We were fine-tuning and doing full routines. Joe was doing a move he has done dozens of times – it was nothing new. He was on the fourth of his six pieces, so he was well and truly warmed up.
"It is so unfortunate. Injury is a constant hazard when gymnasts are training at this level. Joe felt a niggle in his ankle the day before but nothing out of the ordinary. He had done four full dismounts with no hint of any problem."
Joe was taken by ambulance to a specialist hospital where he was seen by a senior orthopedic surgeon. X-rays and an MRI scan confirmed a full tear of the Achilles tendon in his left leg and Joe was put into plaster.
Joe continued: "Even in the ambulance I was sure it would be a small tear – I never thought it would be snapped. I knew as soon as the pain hit that my Games were over. It’s the worst injury I’ve ever had. The doctor said that the MRI scan showed that there was fraying of the tendon and despite the lack of symptoms it could have "gone" at any time. It’s just a pity it wasn’t a week or so later!"
Despite it being an obvious blow to the gymnastics team’s chances in the competition his team mate’s first thoughts were for their close friend.
Alex Hedges, gymnastics team captain, said: "I saw it happen. It was obvious from the pain that Joe was in that it was serious. First and foremost it sucks for Joe. We all live and train with these risks but that it’s struck Joe at such a critical time is a massive shame.
"Team-wise we are looking at a big hit to our team score especially as Joe was our strongest performer in floor and vault.
"Before going to hospital, Joe shook all our hands and told us to make sure we finished the session. When we returned to the floor, it seemed really empty without him."
Gennady Tsyganov, gymnastics coach for the men’s team, has coached Joe throughout his career. He said: "It is a big problem for the team. We have lost a very important team member especially on the floor, the vault and the parallel bars which are his great strengths.
"Joe’s four-year plan has been to make the individual floor final and his preparation had been going really well."
Frank Vaughan, team doctor, was full of praise for the treatment Joe received. He commented: "The local medical care has been excellent -very fast and very efficient. We’ll now be doing our best to ensure that Joe gets the best treatment and care both here in Delhi and in the Island when he gets home."
Mukunda Measuria, a gymnast in the team, said: "If there’s one positive then it’s that we can still take part in the team event – albeit with a significantly reduced score."
Joe is said to be upbeat and has assured his team mates that he will be, "chief cheerleader."
The news follows the confirmation of cyclist Tim Kennaugh’s decision to withdraw from the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi over health and safety concerns.
