Gymnastics meets are rarely quiet, but when McKayla Maroney fell badly on her back during warm-ups at the Visa Championships in early June, the only sound that could be heard was the teen-friendly music blasting from the sound system. Though Maroney stood up and gingerly walked from the platform, it was clear something wasn't right.
Emergency room doctors confirmed this. The fall caused Maroney to break a bone in her nose and had given her a mild concussion. Just three weeks before the Olympic Trials, there was concern Maroney would miss the meet that decides the Olympic team, but doctors cleared her return on June 19, and she is back to competition form for the trials in San Jose.
[ Photos: Gymnastics action at 2012 Visa Championships ]
Women's competition starts on Friday, and Maroney is expected to perform the Amanar vault she is known for. It's shocking to see such a tiny gymnast perform a vault that requires so many flips and twists, but she nails it.
As the U.S. puts together a team, Maroney's dependably high vault score will be key to her bid to earn one of the five spots. She will have to show she is healthy and still can perform.