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Olympic gymnastics medallist’s career could be over as she needs life-changing leg surgery

OLYMPIC medallist Yana Kudryavtseva may never compete again after sadly needing a leg operation.

The Russian gymnast’s career hangs in the balance after doctors have told her she may have to quit sports forever after discovering she has an extra bone in both feet.

Pic shows: Yana Kudryavtseva. A 19-year-old Olympic medallist’s career dreams may have been shattered by the need to have a leg operation. Russian gymnast Yana Kudryavtseva is an individual rhythmic gymnast who won silver in the all-round event at the Rio 2016 Olympics. She first started feeling leg pain in 2015 at the World Championships, when she won five gold medals, and the situation has been getting worse ever since. After consultations with doctors both in Russia and abroad it has been reported that Ms Kudryavtseva might have to quit sports. On September 30 she underwent surgery on her leg, which means that she would need to spend the following six weeks wearing a leg brace. She said: "It all depends on the surgery. If I still can compete after it, I will remain in sports. Even if it would mean that it would be painful. I haven’t decided yet if I will stay or leave." Kudryavtseva has a congenital foot problem – an extra bone in both feet. The left one has been operated on and the right needs the same attention. President of the Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation, Irina Viner-Usmanova, 68, made a public statement regretting that Ms Kudryavtseva would not be able to continue her career. She said: "Her broken leg made the condition of another leg a lot worse, now it needs to be operated on as well. She has no more will to go through any more operations. This decision of a talented and beautiful athlete to quit sports made us cry." But Ms Kudryavtseva was surprised to hear such a statement, as she has not decided herself. She said: "To be honest, I was quite shocked to hear that. I have never announced any of this. Currently doctors are giving me some off time and I do not plan on spending it on crutches. I wanted to get a good rest, and my holiday is still ongoing." (ends)
Yana Kudryavtseva is currently in a leg brace after an operation on her left leg

The 19-year-old is an individual rhythmic gymnast who won silver in the all round event at Rio 2016.

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She began feeling pain in her legs during the World Championships in 2015 but still went on to win five gold medals at the competition in Glasgow.

But since this time in her career the injury has continued to get worse and she has already had an operation on her left leg, but still needs one done on her right leg.

Kudryavtseva will now spend the next six months in a leg brace and she still remains hopeful she will be able to compete in the future.

Pic shows: Yana Kudryavtseva. A 19-year-old Olympic medallist’s career dreams may have been shattered by the need to have a leg operation. Russian gymnast Yana Kudryavtseva is an individual rhythmic gymnast who won silver in the all-round event at the Rio 2016 Olympics. She first started feeling leg pain in 2015 at the World Championships, when she won five gold medals, and the situation has been getting worse ever since. After consultations with doctors both in Russia and abroad it has been reported that Ms Kudryavtseva might have to quit sports. On September 30 she underwent surgery on her leg, which means that she would need to spend the following six weeks wearing a leg brace. She said: "It all depends on the surgery. If I still can compete after it, I will remain in sports. Even if it would mean that it would be painful. I haven’t decided yet if I will stay or leave." Kudryavtseva has a congenital foot problem – an extra bone in both feet. The left one has been operated on and the right needs the same attention. President of the Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation, Irina Viner-Usmanova, 68, made a public statement regretting that Ms Kudryavtseva would not be able to continue her career. She said: "Her broken leg made the condition of another leg a lot worse, now it needs to be operated on as well. She has no more will to go through any more operations. This decision of a talented and beautiful athlete to quit sports made us cry." But Ms Kudryavtseva was surprised to hear such a statement, as she has not decided herself. She said: "To be honest, I was quite shocked to hear that. I have never announced any of this. Currently doctors are giving me some off time and I do not plan on spending it on crutches. I wanted to get a good rest, and my holiday is still ongoing." (ends)
The Russian gymnast won a silver medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics
Pic shows: Yana Kudryavtseva. A 19-year-old Olympic medallist’s career dreams may have been shattered by the need to have a leg operation. Russian gymnast Yana Kudryavtseva is an individual rhythmic gymnast who won silver in the all-round event at the Rio 2016 Olympics. She first started feeling leg pain in 2015 at the World Championships, when she won five gold medals, and the situation has been getting worse ever since. After consultations with doctors both in Russia and abroad it has been reported that Ms Kudryavtseva might have to quit sports. On September 30 she underwent surgery on her leg, which means that she would need to spend the following six weeks wearing a leg brace. She said: "It all depends on the surgery. If I still can compete after it, I will remain in sports. Even if it would mean that it would be painful. I haven’t decided yet if I will stay or leave." Kudryavtseva has a congenital foot problem – an extra bone in both feet. The left one has been operated on and the right needs the same attention. President of the Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation, Irina Viner-Usmanova, 68, made a public statement regretting that Ms Kudryavtseva would not be able to continue her career. She said: "Her broken leg made the condition of another leg a lot worse, now it needs to be operated on as well. She has no more will to go through any more operations. This decision of a talented and beautiful athlete to quit sports made us cry." But Ms Kudryavtseva was surprised to hear such a statement, as she has not decided herself. She said: "To be honest, I was quite shocked to hear that. I have never announced any of this. Currently doctors are giving me some off time and I do not plan on spending it on crutches. I wanted to get a good rest, and my holiday is still ongoing." (ends)
The teenager also needs an operation on her right leg

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She said: “It all depends on the surgery. If I still can compete after it, I will remain in sports. Even if it would mean that it would be painful. I haven’t decided yet if I will stay or leave.”

But despite her hope of recovering from her injury, the President of the Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation, Irina Viner-Usmanova, made a public statement saying Kudryavtseva would never compete again.

She said: “To be honest, I was quite shocked to hear that. I have never announced any of this. Currently doctors are giving me some time off and I do not plan on spending it in crutches. I wanted to get a good rest, and I am still on holiday.”

Pic shows: Yana Kudryavtseva. A 19-year-old Olympic medallist’s career dreams may have been shattered by the need to have a leg operation. Russian gymnast Yana Kudryavtseva is an individual rhythmic gymnast who won silver in the all-round event at the Rio 2016 Olympics. She first started feeling leg pain in 2015 at the World Championships, when she won five gold medals, and the situation has been getting worse ever since. After consultations with doctors both in Russia and abroad it has been reported that Ms Kudryavtseva might have to quit sports. On September 30 she underwent surgery on her leg, which means that she would need to spend the following six weeks wearing a leg brace. She said: "It all depends on the surgery. If I still can compete after it, I will remain in sports. Even if it would mean that it would be painful. I haven’t decided yet if I will stay or leave." Kudryavtseva has a congenital foot problem – an extra bone in both feet. The left one has been operated on and the right needs the same attention. President of the Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation, Irina Viner-Usmanova, 68, made a public statement regretting that Ms Kudryavtseva would not be able to continue her career. She said: "Her broken leg made the condition of another leg a lot worse, now it needs to be operated on as well. She has no more will to go through any more operations. This decision of a talented and beautiful athlete to quit sports made us cry." But Ms Kudryavtseva was surprised to hear such a statement, as she has not decided herself. She said: "To be honest, I was quite shocked to hear that. I have never announced any of this. Currently doctors are giving me some off time and I do not plan on spending it on crutches. I wanted to get a good rest, and my holiday is still ongoing." (ends)
Kudryavtseva remains hopeful of recovering from her injury despite officials saying she will never compete again

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