LAURA JONES has today pulled out of Britain's gymnastics team for the Beijing Olympics and been replaced by Imogen Cairns (pictured), an 18-year-old from Bristol.
Jones, a 16-year-old from Nottingham, has been forced to pull out of the team because of a slipped disc in her back.
Matthew Greenwood, British Gymnastics performance director, said: “It is desperately sad that Laura has had to be withdrawn as she was such a strong member of the team.
"Having worked so hard and being selected to the team this must be a bitter blow just a few days before departure to Macau.
"We wish her all the very best for a swift recovery.”
Adrian Stan, the women’s artistic technical director said: “Having been unfortunately forced to make this change due to injury we had to replace Laura with someone of the same caliber and we feel that Imogen is an ideal replacement, this is a great indication of the strength and depth in the squad.”
Hannah Clowes will now take the place of the second reserve gymnast.
gymnast.
