Sydney and Athens Olympic men's vault champion Gervasio Deferr will concentrate on floor exercise rather than his specialtiy event of vault due to his injury on two knees, his personal coach said on Wednesday.
Deferr refused to accept an interview in person but asked his coach Alfredo Hueto to answer questions after a podium training in the National Indoor Stadium. The 27-year-old world champion is the only gymnast successfully defending his Olympic apparatus title in Athens in 2004.
"This year is very hard for us. We have got lots of problems. Deferr injured his two knees during training in April in Barcelona. His shoulders and elbows are in recovery. Therefore, he is not in the best position like in Athens. We have asked Deferr to concentrate on floor exercise instead of vault," said Hueto.
"Deferr is getting old," added the coach. On the medal prospect of the vault king, Hueto remained cautious by just saying "it is hard to say. We can just wait and see."
The Spanish gymnast also has strong competitiveness in floor exercise. He gained silver in the event in the 2007 World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany.
"In the gymnastic world few players can defend their world title like Deferr. He started his career from a high level and participated in international competitions when he was very young," Heuto said when making comments on Deferr's gymnastic feat.
(Xinhua News Agency August 6, 2008)