Avery Neff’s return to full fitness has really helped the Utah Red Rocks. Not just restricted to the beams, she performed on all 4 events as her team won against Washington 197.225-195.875. But not everything’s alright in the Big 12 gymnastics program. While they have got one gymnast back, another gymnast may have just gotten sidelined due to injury. We don’t know for how long, but she has missed the last 2 meets.
Ana Padurariu has been with the Red Rocks since September 2024, after transferring from UCLA. And she had made a smooth transition to her new environment. However, the latest setback will be a disappointing outcome for her, as well as for Utah. Here’s why.
An injury too late, and to someone too important
Hardly less than 2 weeks remain for the Regional Championships. Every team has done all the experimentation they have had to do. The lineups are settled. No room for surprises now, but is there? That’s why Avery Neff‘s full return was such a blessing for Utah Gymnastics. She has always been an all-around candidate, and that bolsters the Utah lineup perfectly. Unfortunately, Ana Padurariu was also somewhat of a constant.
People were speculating why she wasn’t seen in the Denver meet. Is she injured? Maybe dropped for some reason? Or something else. Well, Deseret Sports writer Trent Wood cleared things up on March 9. Taking to X, he shared, “Carly (Dockendorf) told us during the week that Ana tweaked an old injury before the Denver meet. She said it wasn’t serious though.” Oh no!! That certainly does not bode well for the Utah fans.
Carly told us during the week that Ana tweaked an old injury before the Denver meet. She said it wasn’t serious though.
— Trent Wood (@trentdwood) March 9, 2025
The Canadian hadn’t missed a single beam event in the 2025 season before February 21. Her season high of 9.925 came in the Tri-meet on February 2 between West Virginia and Florida. She had been a consistent performer who looked like she had a beam spot locked down for her. Also, her repertoire as a silver medalist in the balance beam event at the 2018 World Championships speaks volumes about her speciality. So, in the event this turns out to be a prolonged injury, that would be indeed bad for Utah.
Furthermore, she was not just a beam performer for Utah. She had also participated in the uneven bars multiple times, with a season high of 9.900 that came on January 20. An injury puts Utah at a grave disadvantage, it would cost them a really dependable beam specialist and also a bars gymnast. So, its a no-brainer that the Utah Gymnastic program is at a nail-biting cross-road while they await Ana’s injury verdict.
Broken bones and shattered dreams for this gymnastics warrior
The 22-year-old has battled many challenging injuries so much so that it’s an inspiration that she keeps coming back to perform her routines, unfazed by fate. Her last one was the most heart-wrenching. She was almost a guaranteed a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics candidate with the Canadian team. Her decision to prioritize Paris 2024 made a lot more sense when she didn’t compete in the NCAA with UCLA. She was making sure that she was in the right shape for the trials and the Olympics especially after an injury-laden comeback.
But Ana’s luck wasnt in sync with Ana’s desires and dreams. On May 26, she shared a further heart-breaking update with her fans: “… But with 4 broken bones, God’s will for my life was completely different than what I had in mind.” Her spirit was crushed when her purpose driven comeback was a lost cause due to more accumulated concerns.
Even more heartbreaking is the fact that she also missed the Tokyo Olympics due to injury. Surgery on one foot, injections in the other—she endured it all, only to be sidelined again. And yet, she keeps coming back. Because Ana Padurariu believes her story isn’t finished.
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