At age 26, Sho Nakamori said he has reached a point where his injury-riddled body can do only so much of what his mind tells it.
So when the Champions Academy of Morgan Hill product failed to make the Olympic trials Saturday at the Visa Championships in St. Louis, Nakamori retired from gymnastics.
“I’m going to hang up my grips,” he said Monday. “I think it’s time for the next chapter in my life, and I’m excited for it and to find my new passion. I’ve been in the sport for 20 years; it’s going to be interesting finding what to do with my time.”
Nakamori has no regrets after his two-day performance at Chaifetz Arena. He tied for 13th in parallel bars (29.0), 21st in pommel horse (26.4), 22nd in still rings (27.6) and 22nd in high bar (27.35).
“Obviously, I was hoping for better,” he said. “But at the same time, I pushed as much as I could, and I prepared as much as I could.”
The 5-foot, 6-inch Nakamori made the U.S. Team a year ago and felt like he had a good chance to make the trials in San Jose if his body held up. He was coming off helping the Americans win bronze at the Pan Am Games in October. Before that, he placed 15th all around at the 2011 nationals in August.
Nakamori was still hampered though by the torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered three years ago. That, coupled with the effects of past injuries – a broken femur that required a titanium rod to be placed in his left leg, a torn left biceps tendon and a twice-broken right hand – kept Nakamori from competing on the vault and floor and ultimately proved too much to overcome in what was regarded as the deepest pool of American talent in decades.
“I don’t believe I fully recovered from (the ACL tear),” Nakamori said. “I was working around it unfortunately. It’s all about timing in this sport. Everyone works hard at this level. A lot of us have the ability and the skill. It comes down to timing and, I do believe, luck to be in the best condition at the right time. Unfortunately, it didn’t work for me.”
Nakamori said he received praise from Champions head coach Jinjing Zhang, who won a silver medal at the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta.
“He said he was proud of me,” Nakamori said. “He said I gave it my all and left it on the floor. I have nothing to be ashamed for. Some people gauge success on making the Olympics or not. (Zhang) said I should never have to do that. It’s all about the process … the experiences, the people you meet. I’m going to have a better life because of gymnastics.”
The Olympic trials for men’s and women’s gymnastics will run June 28 to July 1 in HP Pavilion. Among those set to compete on the men’s side is former Champions gymnast Josh Dixon.
