Nastia Liukin Eliminated from 2012 Olympics; Former Champion Fell During Routine (VIDEO)

U.S. gymnast Nastia Liukin performs on the balance beam at the U.S. Olympic gymnastics trials in San Jose, California July 1, 2012. (Photo : REUTERS/Mike Blake)

Olympic winner Nastia Liukin was eliminated from competing in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London after an unexpected fall at the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team Trials in San Jose on Sunday night.

As Liukin prepared to land to end her routine, the gymnast wound up falling flat on her face. Despite the fall, Liukin got back up and finished the routine. She earned a sub-par score of 13.950 and was instantly eliminated from contention. After the fall, Liukin was met with standing ovations from the crowd.

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Aside from her fall, Liukin finished 10^th on the uneven bars and seventh on the beam during last weekend's trials.

In the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Liukin won five medals, including one gold, three silvers, and a bronze medal. She had been hoping to become the first champion to return to the next games since Nadia Comaneci completed the feat in 1980. However, she had been facing problems with her shoulders according to ABC News and her weeks and weeks of training ultimately failed to pay off.

According to USA Today, Liukin will attend NYU in January and will also go to the Olympic games as a representative for the Federation of International Gymnasts.