The Olympic clock is ticking down on the injured Korean gymnast Yang Hak-seon, but the national team head coach on Tuesday said he hasn't received an update on the athlete's status.
Yoon Chang-sun, who will lead the South Korean team to the Aug. 5-21 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, said he isn't sure how far Yang has come along in his rehab from a torn Achilles tendon in his right foot.
(Yonhap)
On Monday, the Korea Gymnastics Association said it will give Yang, the 2012 Olympic vault gold medalist, a second chance to qualify for Rio. Yang, who suffered the injury during practice in March, missed the first two rounds of the Olympic trials in April and May, but the KG has scheduled three additional rounds, with one each on Saturday, July 13 and July 16.
"I haven't heard whether Yang will take part in these trials or not," Yoon said at the pre-Rio Olympics media day at the National Training Center in Seoul. "He has to take part in them to qualify for the Olympics, and he has to be in all three of them.
Five gymnasts were selected through the earlier rounds, but the KGA added Yang to the mix on a special recommendation. The KGA will finalize the five-man squad after July 16.
On Monday, Kim Chang-seok, Yang's coach at his Suwon City Hall club, said Yang has been refraining from rigorous training, and he can't hurdle onto a springboard with any authority, Kim added.
The KGA maintained the trials will take place as scheduled with or without Yang. (Yonhap)