A Chinese gymnast who was paralysed after a fall during the Goodwill Games in New York will probably never walk again despite successful spinal surgery, her physician said yesterday.

Dr Vincent Leone of Nassau County Medical Centre said the seven-hour operation performed on 17-year-old Sang Lan had enabled her to regain some strength in her shoulders and biceps, but there had been no improvement in mobility in her hands and wrists.

He revealed it was too soon to say how quickly the gymnast would recover and what her final prognosis would be, but it was unlikely she would ever walk again.

Sang, the 1997 Chinese national vault champion, fell on her head during a training routine, injuring her spine and leaving her unable to move her legs.