Unable to recover from chronic lumbar back strain and sacro-tuberous ligament sprain in time for the Olympic qualifying events, 20 year old trampoline gymnast Nani Vercruyssen officially ended her competitive career earlier last week. She did not represent the US at World Cup—China (to which she was assigned) and did not perform in the final US Olympic Trial last weekend in San Jose where the US Olympic teams were determined for men’s, women’s, and trampoline gymnastics. This ends her quest to be in the London Games this summer and forces her retirement several months ahead of schedule. At the final selection event she participated in the national team public events and the final send-off of US Olympians but did not compete for final ranking.
Vercruyssen Retires in 2012
Date July 2012
what's next
Date July 2012
While disappointed in not being able to pursue her dream of going to the London Olympics this summer, Vercruyssen is eager to resume her education at UH-Manoa, where she hopes to become an elementary school teacher, and to replace her father as head coach of the elite and international teams at Hawaii Academy. While recovering from her injuries she has totally immersed herself in summer school courses and training her gymnasts for the Japan Junior National Championships in Osaka in late July (last time she attended this event as a gymnast and won grand champion; this time she returns as head coach of the Hawaii delegation and a judge).
