“Is He Alive?”: US Championships Turn Horrific For Gymnastics Community After High Bars Set Turns Ugly

In a challenging sport like gymnastics, high achievements come with even higher risks! Day 1 of the 2024 Xfinity US Championships 1 kicked off with the Junior Men’s Competition on May 30th. While the day promised stunning performances by the junior gymnasts, the spectators also witnessed some scary falls.

Danila Leykin, a standout in the 17s category, suffered through a rough early fall in his parallel bars causing probable wrist or a hand injury. In contrast to his first-place triumph on high bars at Winter Cup 2024, parallel bars are not his strongest suit, which is quite evidenced by his 7th-place finish at the Winter Cup and Pacific Rim this year. Apparently, his fall at Xfinity led to him scratching off the remainder of the events. Along with him was Anthony Ruscheinsky.

Adding to the drama, Anthony Ruscheinsky, from Salto Gymnastics Center, turned the anticipation into fear when he suffered a terrible fall at Forth Worth, Texas. Ruscheinsky, who competes in the Men’s Artistic discipline at level 10, had a frightening fall during a release move on the high bars.

Taking on his X handle, Evan Manivong shared a horrifying video of Ruscheinsky’s unexpected fall during the high bar routine. Manivong captioned it, “This happened in the jr men’s comp today…” He collided with the bar before he fell face down on the mat. He remained motionless, requiring medical attention before he eventually managed to walk off the podium on his own. Later, he scratched from the event along with Danila Leykin.

Talking about scary falls, these were not the first time that such an incident has occurred where gymnasts had to withdraw from the event. In April, Zoe Miller announced the end of her elite career due to a shoulder injury due to a bar dismount at final control competitions at Lilleshall. Just before the 2024 Winter Cup she stated, “As I am 100% prioritizing my full recovery to be ready for college, this now means my elite career ends here. It’s hard to accept, but focusing on college preparations has been exciting and motivating.”

Konnor McClain withdrew from the Olympic run after she injured her Achilles tendon while warming up for the Core Hydration 2024. Trinity Thomas, too, has to withdraw from the Xfinity Day 1 due to an ankle injury. So, to give it a very broad thought, as the sport demands perfection, it also comes at a high-risk cost of injury. And while it’s so common, what’s uncommon is to see such shocking falls like Anthony Ruscheinsky’s, which garnered huge attention from across the platforms.

Wave of support for Anthony Ruscheinsky! 

In the wake of the horrific accident at the 2024 Xfinity US Gymnastics Championships, gymnastics fans nationwide supported Anthony Ruscheinsky. He has since become the focus of widespread sympathy and encouragement from the gymnastics community and beyond.

In a 10-year observational study done by Sports Health, it was found that women suffered lower extremity injuries like ankle and leg, and men suffered upper extremity injuries to the hand and wrist, most of which happened during the high bars. According to the study, high bars were identified as the most challenging event for men in terms of injuries, highlighting their difficulty. This was exemplified by Ruscheinsky’s tragic fall on My 30th, which shocked many. 

One of the users reposted Manivong’s post, expressing his shock and alarm at the young athlete’s fall. “IS HE ALIVE?” This desperate question was heard throughout the arena and social media as fans anxiously sought updates on Anthony Ruscheinsky’s condition.

Another fan in the comments expressed the split second of confusion when they thought Ruscheinsky was releasing the bar as part of his routine. This was before he realized in horror that it was an accident. They wrote, “thought this was the craziest release of all time for a sec.“

Another spectator expressed their concern and anxiety about the potentially fatal fall, putting forward their apprehension about the wellbeing of Ruscheinsky and hoping he was okay. Writing, “he def got lost in the air then tried salvaging something at the last second.. omg hope he’s ok 😳🙏🏻“

Some more fans expressed their worry. They acknowledged the dangerous nature of the fall that happened during Anthony Ruscheinsky’s high bars routine and wished the best for the athlete as well. Saying, “It looks like he was dismounting and pulled in. Hope he’s okay. Scary“

A fan came bearing some good news as they mentioned Ruscheinsky was able to walk on his own and was in possession of all his motor skills. This surely comes as a great relief for fans who do not want to witness a young gymnast’s career face any setbacks or end before their time. They said, “I heard he got up and walked off but jesus this is reallllly scary.“

The 2024 Xfinity US Gymnastics Championships will be remembered not only for the incredible displays of athleticism but also for the harrowing incident that shook the gymnastics community to its core. Moving forward, the focus remains on ensuring the safety and well-being of all athletes while continuing to celebrate their remarkable talents and achievements.