Bulgarian-American gymnast, Eddie Penev announced via Instagram that he will not compete at the final Olympic qualifier via the world cup circuit. He cited a shoulder injury as the reason for his withdrawl.

His withdrawl from the World Cup circuit is reminicent of his withdrawl from competition right before the Tokyo Olympic Games. Penev previously competed for the United States where he won gold on floor and vault at numerous World Challenge Cups; he was seeking a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team in 2021 when he tore his ACL in the final in-house competition before the 2021 Olympic Trials.

While Eddie has not indicated whether this injury will lead to his competitive retirement, he noted in his Instagram post that he still has a role to play in helping his brother prepare for the upcoming Olympic Games. He said, "It’s easy to get swept in the emotion of the moment, but I’m reminded that I still have a roll to play in helping my brother as he prepares for Paris. Kid’s got serious potential and I owe it to him." Eddie's younger brother, Kevin Penev, qualified for the 2024 Olympics via the 2023 World Gymnastics Championships and will compete for Bulgaria later this summer.

Article by: Kensley Behel

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