Despite one ear infection and sore ankle, Lori Strong, Whitby Olympic hopeful, returned from recent competition in China with gold and bronze medals.
While in China Strong suffered from an inner ear infection. Chinese physicians gave the gymnast needles in an attempt to cure the infection, but she eventually went to the Canadian Embassy in China to receive proper medication. With the infection cured, Strong went on to capture gold and bronze at the China Cup.
Strong also practised on Chinese equipment and floors, which in comparison to Canadian standards are much harder. She sustained slight bruising to her right ankle due to the constant pounding on the floor during her routines. She did not participate in another international meet in Beijing.
Diagnosed as slight tendonitis, Strong is wearing a plastic cup to relieve the pressure on her right ankle. The injury, although painful, is not serious and Strong will be able to compete at the Canadian nationals, which are to be held at Hamilton’s Copps Coliseum this month.
“Lori is very tired, having been back only a week from China. They say it takes a day to recuperate for every hour you are back due to jet lag and Lori was 14 hours behind our time in Canada,” commented Strong’s mother on her daughter’s condition. “I’m hoping she does well in Hamilton.”
Strong is also scheduled to compete in the Olympic trials to be held in Montreal beginning the first week of August.
She is a favorite to advance and become a member of the Olympic squad, which will travel to Korea this summer, to participate in the 1988 Summer Games.
