German upstart Daria Bijak's (hey world, it's pronounced BEE-zhak!) return to top level gymnastics remains unsure. The 15-year-old Greven native underwent surgery in Dresden for a complicated fracture in her foot a few weeks ago (gymworld reported). National team coach Petra Theiss expressed her concern over Daria's injury at the recent dual meet against Belarus: "She is just starting strength exercises this week. I cannot say at this point in time whether she will be ready for the world championships."

Sources within the regional federation Westfälischer Turnerbund (WTB), to which Darias home-club TVE Greven belongs, are even hinting that her injury might possibly even mean the end of her promissing career. The spunky Bijak had single handly dominated the German National Championships in her age category in the past three years. Last year she placed 13th AA at the Junior European Championships in Paris (France) and led her team to a solid 9th ranking.

Ötzi