Injuries limit Sloan to beam only for US gymnastics championships

Sloan limited to one event for nationals

HARTFORD, Conn. — Bridget Sloan will be unable to defend her national gymnastics title, due to ankle and shoulder injuries that will limit her to one event at U.S. Championships.

Sloan is also the defending world champion in the all-around. She’ll compete on beam when the women start Thursday. She has been nursing an ankle injury since March and last week in training she hurt her shoulder and pectoral muscles, forcing her to give up hope of competing in the all-around.

Sloan’s absence from the all-around makes Rebecca Bross, last year’s world silver medalist, the favorite.

The men start Wednesday, with Jonathan Horton hoping to defend his national title.