John Orozco was named as the replacement for Danell Leyva on the U.S. gymnastics team going to the World Championships next month, USA Gymnastics announced.
Orozco, the 2012 U.S. all-around champion, was one of three alternates considered for the opening on the six-man team after Leyva withdrew Monday, citing a lingering shoulder injury.
“I am honored to be representing USA at World Championships this year and I wish Danell Johan Leyva a speedy recovery,” was posted on Orozco’s social media accounts.
Orozco finished fourth in the all-around at last weekend’s National Championships in Hartford, Conn., in his first full, six-event competition since tearing an ACL and a meniscus in his left knee in October.
USA Gymnastics picked six men after nationals for the World Championships team. Orozco was the highest-ranked all-around finisher of the men who were not picked. Leyva, the 2012 Olympic all-around bronze medalist, was seventh in the all-around at nationals.
Orozco, 20, joins a U.S. team led by fellow Olympian Sam Mikulak, who ran away with the all-around title in Hartford. Also on the team is Olympian Jake Dalton and previous World Championships team members Alex Naddour, Brandon Wynn and Steven Legendre.
There is no team event at the World Championships, which begin Sept. 30. Orozco is a candidate for medals on high bar and parallel bars. It remains to be seen if Orozco will be one of two U.S. competitors in the all-around. It would be a surprise if Mikulak is not one of the two. Orozco placed fifth in the all-around at the 2011 World Championships and eighth at the 2012 Olympics.
