2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic GamesJul 15, 2016 by Rebecca Johnson
John Orozco Injures Knee on Bar Dismount, Out of Rio 2016
John Orozco Injures Knee on Bar Dismount, Out of Rio 2016
John Orozco tore his ACL and meniscus in his left knee while training a bar dismount during the men's Olympic Team Training Camp. He has withdrawn from the
John Orozco tore his ACL and meniscus in his left knee while training a bar dismount during the men's Olympic Team Training Camp. He has withdrawn from the Rio 2016 Olympic team and will be replaced by Danell Leyva. This is the same knee and injury that Orozco sustained in October 2012.
Kevin Mazeika, the national team coordinator for the U.S. Men's National Team, noted it's always difficult to replace a team member, but Orozco is handling it well:
Release via USA Gymnastics
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., July 15, 2016 -- John Orozco of the Bronx, N.Y./Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center), injured his left knee on a horizontal bar dismount during the men's Olympic Team Training Camp. Orozco has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus, which is the same injury to that knee that happened in October 2012. As a result, Orozco has withdrawn from the team, and Danell Leyva of Miami/Team Hilton (Universal Gymnastics) has been named to the team.
"It is always difficult to replace an Olympic team member," said Kevin Mazeika, the national team coordinator for the U.S. Men's National Team. "John's injury is unfortunate and heartbreaking news, but he is handling the situation like the true professional and champion that he is. He's fully supporting the team and its goals moving ahead."
This unfortunate injury put an end to Orozco's comeback in 2016 that resulted in making his second Olympic team. Orozco's 2016 accolades include: Pac Rim team and horizontal bar champion and still rings silver medalist; Rio Olympic Qualifier pommel horse silver medalist and all-around and high bar bronze medalist; and U.S. horizontal bar bronze medalist. In 2014, he was second in the all-around at the P&G Championships, where he won the horizontal bar title, and helped the U.S. win team bronze at the 2014 World Championships. He was the silver medalist on the parallel bars and horizontal bar at the 2013 P&G Championships. Orozco went on to capture the bronze medal for the parallel bars at the 2013 World Championships. He also was a member of the 2011 World's team that won the team bronze.
Leyva, the 2012 Olympic all-around bronze medalist, won the horizontal bar silver medal at the 2015 World Championships, his fifth World medal. Leyva's resume this quad includes 2014 World team bronze and parallel bars silver medalist. He won the 2011 World parallel bars title. Additionally, Leyva is a four-time U.S. parallel bars (2010-12, 2014) and three-time horizontal bar (2009, 2011-12) champion. At the recent U.S. Olympic Team Trials -- Men's Gymnastics, Leyva was second on the parallel bars and third on the high bar.
Related:
2016 U.S. Men's Olympic Gymnastics Team Named
Kevin Mazeika, the national team coordinator for the U.S. Men's National Team, noted it's always difficult to replace a team member, but Orozco is handling it well:
John's injury is unfortunate and heartbreaking news, but he is handling the situation like the true professional and champion that he is. He's fully supporting the team and its goals moving ahead.
Release via USA Gymnastics
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., July 15, 2016 -- John Orozco of the Bronx, N.Y./Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center), injured his left knee on a horizontal bar dismount during the men's Olympic Team Training Camp. Orozco has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus, which is the same injury to that knee that happened in October 2012. As a result, Orozco has withdrawn from the team, and Danell Leyva of Miami/Team Hilton (Universal Gymnastics) has been named to the team.
"It is always difficult to replace an Olympic team member," said Kevin Mazeika, the national team coordinator for the U.S. Men's National Team. "John's injury is unfortunate and heartbreaking news, but he is handling the situation like the true professional and champion that he is. He's fully supporting the team and its goals moving ahead."
This unfortunate injury put an end to Orozco's comeback in 2016 that resulted in making his second Olympic team. Orozco's 2016 accolades include: Pac Rim team and horizontal bar champion and still rings silver medalist; Rio Olympic Qualifier pommel horse silver medalist and all-around and high bar bronze medalist; and U.S. horizontal bar bronze medalist. In 2014, he was second in the all-around at the P&G Championships, where he won the horizontal bar title, and helped the U.S. win team bronze at the 2014 World Championships. He was the silver medalist on the parallel bars and horizontal bar at the 2013 P&G Championships. Orozco went on to capture the bronze medal for the parallel bars at the 2013 World Championships. He also was a member of the 2011 World's team that won the team bronze.
Leyva, the 2012 Olympic all-around bronze medalist, won the horizontal bar silver medal at the 2015 World Championships, his fifth World medal. Leyva's resume this quad includes 2014 World team bronze and parallel bars silver medalist. He won the 2011 World parallel bars title. Additionally, Leyva is a four-time U.S. parallel bars (2010-12, 2014) and three-time horizontal bar (2009, 2011-12) champion. At the recent U.S. Olympic Team Trials -- Men's Gymnastics, Leyva was second on the parallel bars and third on the high bar.
Related:
2016 U.S. Men's Olympic Gymnastics Team Named