Injured Jones out of Olympic team

Nottingham's Laura Jones has withdrawn from the British gymnastics team for Beijing after suffering a slipped disc.

The back injury means Jones, 16, has trapped nerves in her leg and cannot compete - she is replaced in the squad by reserve gymnast Imogen Cairns, 19.

"It is desperately sad that Laura has had to be withdrawn," said gymnastics performance director Matthew Greenwood.

"Having worked so hard this must be a bitter blow just a few days before departure to Macau," he added.

Adrian Stan, artistic director for the women's team, said Cairns had the ability to step in for the injured Jones.

"Having been unfortunately forced to make this change due to injury we had to replace Laura with someone of the same calibre," he said.

"We feel that Imogen is an ideal replacement. This is a great indication of the strength and depth in the squad."

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