Olympic Games dream ended for gymnast Clay Stephens after suffering yet another crushing knee injury
He had big hopes that his reconstructed knee would stand the test of competition. But Tokyo Olympic Games hopeful Clay Stephens’ dreams were crushed by another ACL injury in his return to competition.
Olympics
Don't miss out on the headlines from Olympics. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- How Chris Remkes vaulted from an orphanage to a gold medal
- How to get the most out of your Advertiser digital subscription
Outstanding South Australian gymnast Clay Stephens’ bid to make the Tokyo Olympic Games is over, suffering another sickening knee injury at last week’s World Cup in Melbourne – his first competitive event since rupturing an ACL in March last year.
In the cruellest twist for an athlete Stephens, based in the United States, was hoping for a solid result in Melbourne and then, all going well, moving on to his big test at the Oceania titles in New Zealand which is the final qualifying event for Tokyo.
Stream over 50 sports live and on demand with KAYO SPORTS. Just $25/month, no lock-in contract.Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly >
But the bad news was realised early in the competition when Stephens felt something wasn’t right.
Tests confirmed the unthinkable that Stephens had ruptured his ACL, believed to be the same knee he injured at a club event when he was representing the University of Illinois last March.
Incredibly, he ruptured the other knee during the world championship in 2017, making it three ACL injuries in three years.
Stephens, who is a member of Australia’s high performance gymnastics team and is an SA Sports Institute Scholarship holder, was devastated by his mishap.
In a Facebook post, Stephens said his news was crushing, but he was buoyed by the public support.
“Radiology reports show a torn ACL, MCL, meniscus and partial PCL,’’ Stephens said.
“My dreams feel ever so elusive and the height of this hurdle is incessant.
“The support that I have received over the past couple of days has given me reason to try and find a way over it.
“This one hurt so bad knowing how many people have shown me unbelievable amounts of belief and support.
“I wish everyone on the World Cup team all the best going forward.’’
Surgery on Stephens’ injured knee is expected to be in April.
Meanwhile, SA’s other gymnastics star, Chris Remkes, appears to have come through his world campaign unscathed on the pommel.
Remkes also was competing for the first time since rupturing his ACL last year within a day of Stephens’ injury, in different competitions.
But Remkes is nowhere near being ready for a crack at Tokyo, not confident yet to try his injured knee in his Commonwealth Games gold medal event, the vault.