Paralyzed gymnast 'making progress'
The teenage gymnast seriously injured in a horrific fall on Sunday is in a stable condition and her muscular sense is returning, the head of China Gymnastics Administrative Center said yesterday in Shanghai.
"Last night and early this morning, I got messages from the hospital and they told me Wang Yan is stable and she is making progress with her injury," said Gao Jian, director of the center.
Wang, 15, fell into a coma at the national championships in Shanghai on Sunday after landing head-first on the mat in her dismount from the uneven bars. She fractured her second and third vertebrae.
Reports after the accident said that she is likely to paralyzed for life, but Gao told a press conference that her condition is better than first thought.
"Having seen her at the hospital, I think she has the chance to recover well. Her right foot is still able to move. From yesterday, she also felt pain in her back. Doctors said that is a favorable sign."
Gao in fact sustained a similar injury himself, and he encouraged Wang to remain strong,
"I told her I had a similar injury in 1968. But after surgery and recovery efforts, I was finally able to stand up. I even carried on competing afterwards.
"The doctor later told me that Wang is feeling calmer and has gained confidence that she will get through it."
Gao also promised to do everything in his power to ensure she gets the best possible treatment.
"Chief officials from Shanghai and Zhejiang province (Wang's local team) have asked different departments to offer help and make sure Wang will be healthy again."
But Gao warned it would take time.
"The recovery process takes a long time. I remember it took half a year before I could stand up again, so we should be patient and give her a good environment."
However, Wang's injury is similar to that suffered nine years ago by female Chinese gymnast Sang Lan. She lost balance in the vault warm-up at the New York Goodwill Games in 1998 when she was disturbed by a foreign coach, and after landing on her head was paralyzed. She is still unable to walk.
High risk
The stakes were high for Wang and her competitors at the national championships because it was the first trial for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The gymnasts all displayed their newest and toughest routines in a bid to enhance their chances of being selected for next year's Games.
Gao admitted that the Federation of International Gymnastics' decision to set no limit on the difficulty increases the risk of injures.
"The rule to allow non-limited difficulty leads to an increasing number of injuries and also there will be fewer children taking part in the sport.
"Actually there are many countries including Russia and USA that are against the rule."
To make life easier for injured athletes, Gao singled out the importance of life insurance.
"No one is allowed to compete without life insurance. But I hope no such tragedy happens again.
"The priority for us is to make extra efforts to prevent it."
However it is still unknown how Wang will be financially supported during and after surgery.
Zhai Xiaoxiang, deputy head of the Zhejiang Sports Bureau, told a local newspaper that Wang's school is paying for her treatment.
He said Wang has insurance but the procedure is not completed yet.
(China Daily 06/15/2007 page22)
