Romania's rock Larisa Iordache has sustained a devastating injury just 39 days before the Rio Test Event. She broke her finger in training, which will require surgery and put her on the sidelines for the Test Event in April, according to TVR Sports. 

This is not only terribly unfortunate for Iordache's individual qualification to Rio, but will make it much more difficult for Romania to finish in the top four at the Test Event in order to qualify to the Olympics in Rio.

Team Romania finished 13th overall at 2015 World Championships after a very uncharacteristically poor performance. Therefore, they are attending the Test Event and must finish in the top four out of the eight teams to move on to the Olympics.

Additionally, Iordache's injury ends her chances of qualifying to the Olympics as an individual through the Test Event even though she took third all-around at Worlds in Glasgow. There is a rule in place that if you medal in an individual event at World Championships the year before the Olympics, you earn an automatic berth to the Olympics for that event. However, all-around is not included in the automatic qualification. **Update after Test Event: Romania was given one spot for an individual to represent the country at Rio.

Unfortunately, it will prove very difficult for the team to qualify, with longtime veteran Catalina Ponor still returning from an injury as well.

Team Romania has not missed the podium at an Olympics since 1976--the only nation that has achieved this record in history. The last time they didn't have a gymnastics team at the Games was in 1948. Hopefully they won't be "making history" this year.


Related:
Romania Off To Disastrous Start At 2015 World Championships
Madison Kocian Sidelined With Injury