Shayla Worley's Words of Wisdom: Beijing Bound

Worley’s Words of Wisdom 1

2007 World team member and world gold medalist Shayla Worley joins the Inside Gymnastics team in our coverage from Beijing. Worley will be blogging for on our website during the Olympic Games, sharing her experience, insight and unique persepctive. Worley was in the mix to challenge for a spot on the 2008 Olympic Team, but injuries sidelined that talented standout (she talks more about her season-ending injury below). Having trained and competed alongside the ladies who will be representing USA in Beijing, Worley knows the team as well as anyone, from the struggles along the journey to the thrill of victory and the strong bonds of friendship that form along the way. She’ll be sharing her unique perspective with Inside Gymnastics throughout the Games so check back often for Shayla Worley’s Words of Wisdom!

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Beijing Bound

August 6, 2008

Beijing Bound ... two short words that have been used to describe me for the past four years. And despite the shortcoming and bad timing of my recent leg injury, I am still Beijing bound.

For those of you who don’t know, about two-and-a-half weeks ago I broke my right fibula.My leg had been hurting for a little while, but I just thought it was shin splints. I iced it every day and did the normal shin exercises, but when I got to the final selection camp, I knew there was something wrong with my leg.Every night when I went to bed, I prayed it would feel better when I woke up.

In warm-up on the first day of competition, I was doing my thirty-second touch on beam and, after an illusion turn, I stepped and heard/felt a "pop", and my Olympic dream was over just like that…

But my team still has a gold medal to win, and I want to be there to help in any way I can, even if it's just with my loud mouth from the stands.

I’ll be leaving for China on Thursday, August 7^th, and I am extremely excited and can't wait to keep you all updated on everything that happens on my trip to China. From gymnastics, to the Great Wall, to the food and shopping, I’ll keep you updated.

I know so many people would love to go over there to experience it themselves, but just can’t, so I’ll do my best to make you feel like you’re actually in China! Stay posted for my next update!

~Shayla Worley~