Shocking Retirement from Priess
June 05, 20082006 World team member Ashley Priess has withdrawn herself from the U.S. National Championships and retired from the Elite level of the sport without warning.
Already signed with Alabama for the 2009 season, Priess, who trained with Mary Lee Tracy, has decided to focus on college gymnastics. She came to the meet and had what Tracy describes as a “great, fine” first training on Tuesday but by the time she’d returned on Tuesday evening, she told Tracy she was done. Priess flew home the next day.
“She was all the way back, on all four events,” Tracy said sadly. “She was ready to go.”
Priess’ longtime coach said she had no hint that Ashley was thinking of calling it quits. Last month, Priess finished second all-around at the international “friendly” event at the Karolyi Ranch, and was hearing “very good things” from National Team Coordinator Martha Karolyi, according to Tracy.
“I think so,” Tracy answered when asked if Priess felt she had an Olympic shot. “I think enough people were telling her that she had a chance, with her recent showing. She was doing so well on bars, and they need bars. … It wasn’t a fear of failure, of not being selected.”
Last year, Priess missed Championships and Worlds with a back injury that required her to be in a brace for six months. “That took a huge personal [toll],” Tracy said of Priess’ agonizing recovery. “I feel like maybe she didn’t have enough left—just didn’t have enough juice to cross the finish line. That’s not something she told me, just something I think, looking back, and trying to work out for myself why.
“I wish I had a story to tell,” coach Mary Lee Tracy said of Priess’ sudden withdrawal. “I’m just shocked … kind of numb, disappointed, sad. I’m trying to respect her decision, but it’s hard right now. … Luckily my juniors did great—they didn’t let this get into their heads.”
Tracy’s two juniors, Cassie Whitcomb and Amanda Jetter, are currently third and fifth in the standings.
