The reeling Romanian women’s gymnastics program suffered two more considerable losses at the world championships this week.
First there was the sight of Larisa Iordache, its all-around star, being carried off the floor with a torn Achilles in qualification warm-ups.
Later that session, Catalina Ponor, the last remaining link to Romania’s most recent golden generation, attempted a layout mount onto the balance beam.
She fell. The eight-woman final will be held on Sunday without her. Onto retirement for the 30-year-old who won three titles at the 2004 Athens Games.
Romania failed to advance a female gymnast to any final at an Olympics or worlds for the first time in more than 50 years.