By Xinhua,
Moscow : Two-time Olympic champion Elena Zamolodchikova failed to make it to the Russian gymnastics squad after poor performance in the trials for next month’s Beijing Olympic Games.
The 25-year-old, who won two gold medals in 2000 and a team bronze four years later, finished a disappointing 12th in the all-around competition and failed to make the final in any of the four individual events of the Russian championships, which concluded Sunday.
Reigning world and European asymmetric bars champion Ksenia Semenova leads a 10-strong provisional women’s squad, while European all-around champion Maxim Deviatovsky heads the men’s team.
Later this month, both squads will be trimmed to seven gymnasts who will make the trip to the August 8-24 Games.
Zamolodchikova, who won the floor exercise and vault events, as well as capturing a silver in the team competition, at the Sydney Games, has battled injuries since her team medal in Athens four years ago.
She came last in the vault final, her favourite event, at last year’s world championships in Stuttgart.