Japanese gymnastics prodigy and Paris 2024 hopeful Yamaguchi Sara out for year with ACL injury

Fourteen-year-old Japanese gymnastics phenom Yamaguchi Sara has damaged the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee and is expected to be out for a year, the Japan Gymnastics Association announced on Tuesday (25 April).

Yamaguchi was injured landing off the balance beam during the women's final of the All-Japan All Around Championships in Tokyo on Saturday. She had qualified for the final in first place.

Yamaguchi said in an Instagram post that she is aiming to return in time for next year's All-Japans ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

"The goal is to come back at the All-Japan All Around next year," Yamaguchi said. "I hope to do the rehab and put in the work so I can stay injury free while practising the events I'm not so good at.

"I ask for your continued support."

Fellow Paris hopeful Yamada Chiharu - who was in the same rotation group as Yamaguchi and also hurt her left knee - will be sidelined for close to a year after being diagnosed with a torn ACL. She will undergo surgery 8 May.

Depending on her recovery, the injury to Yamaguchi could potentially be a blow to Japan which is pinning huge hopes on the junior world silver medallist who turns 15 on Friday and has received acclaim at home as well as overseas for her upside.

With a rash of retirements following Tokyo 2020 - Murakami Mai, Teramoto Asuka, Hiraiwa Yuna and Sugihara Aiko have all stood down - Yamaguchi is being counted on to usher in a new wave of talent and to the podium in Paris.

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