Gymnastics: Olympic tickets hanging on injury comebacks

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

Olympic gymnast Laura Robertson's ragged right knee must pass a rigorous test before she is given her ticket to Sydney.

Robertson will have to perform at her best at the national gymnastics championships, starting in Auckland tomorrow, if she is to get to the Olympics.

The same applies to David Phillips, New Zealand's only male gymnast selected for the Games.

Phillips has been on and off the floor in recent months, troubled by two stress fractures in his lower back.

Both athletes have to pass fitness and performance tests at the competition before they leave for Sydney next week.

Robertson is confident she will fly through, even though she has avoided surgery on her torn cartilage.

She had been training in London for the English nationals in July when she suffered the untimely injury - the first time she has hurt a knee.

"I was on the floor doing a tumbling run when I landed a bit awkwardly," she said.

"I felt something go in my knee straight away. And then the Olympics flashed through my mind.

"I was really worried because I had no idea how bad it was."

Robertson flew back to New Zealand for a scan, which revealed the damage was not as serious as she first feared.

She stopped flipping and swinging for three weeks, but decided not to have an operation on the tear.

"I just kept icing it and doing exercises to make it strong," she said. "I've had no problems with it since I've been back training. I think I'll be fine."

Robertson has been training daily for two hours at dawn and another four hours at night in the leadup to this weekend's championships. She has spent the hours in between having physiotherapy and massage treatments.

Her training partner, Westlake Girls High School student Alethea Boon, is on standby to replace Robertson at a moment's notice should the injury flare up again.

Robertson will have to complete all four apparatus - bars, floor, beam and vault - on Saturday night and Monday morning. She will also have to achieve the scores that originally gained her selection for the Games.

Phillips, training last night for his test, also felt certain he could prove his competence to the selectors. He has competed with his back injuries before.

The national artistic championships start tomorrow at the new Bruce Pullman Stadium in Takanini.

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