U.S. champion Ragan Smith suffered an ankle injury and withdrew minutes before the world gymnastics championships all-around final in Montreal on Friday night.
Smith was seen inside the 1976 Olympic Stadium on crutches after rolling her ankle warming up for her first event -- vault.
She was taken for X-Rays, according to USA Gymnastics.
“I could not see exactly how bad it is,” U.S. national team coordinator Valeri Liukin said. “She just landed a little sideways on her vault. I was hoping it’s not that bad. I thought she would get up.”
Teammate Morgan Hurd went on to win the U.S.’ seventh straight Olympic or world all-around title (full story here).
Smith’s score from qualifying was seven tenths of a point better than Hurd’s total Friday.
Both of the pre-meet favorites suffered leg injuries that wiped them out of the competition.
Romanian Larisa Iordache, a two-time world all-around medalist, tore an Achilles warming up for floor exercise before qualification on Wednesday.
OlympicTalk is on Apple News. Favorite us!
WORLDS: Broadcast Schedule | Scores | Women to Watch | Men to Watch