Therese Alshammar, the senior leader of the Swedish swim team with 37 total international gold medals, has been forced out of the 2015 World Championships in Russia due to a herniated disc.
Alshammar, who was looking at competing in her ninth World Championship meet at 37 years old, had issues with her back since February but managed to get back in the water in June. After some training, she immediately noticed more issues that forced her into an MRI where it was discovered that she had a herniated disc that was causing problems with her sciatic nerve.
“It’s really sad to miss the World Championships, but it is best for my body,” Alshammar told DN.se. “My goal now is to be fully fit in the fall when we start training with a view for the Olympics.”
Alshammar is a two-time world long course champion with wins in the 50 fly in 2007 and 50 free in 2011. In total, she’s captured eight medals the long course world championships spanning back to a silver in the 50 fly and 50 free in 2001.
Alshammar’s Long Course Medals
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2007 Melbourne[2] | 50 m butterfly |
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2011 Shanghai | 50 m freestyle |
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2001 Fukuoka | 50 m freestyle |
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2001 Fukuoka | 50 m butterfly |
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2007 Melbourne | 50 m freestyle |
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2009 Rome | 50 m freestyle |
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2011 Shanghai | 50 m butterfly |
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2005 Montréal[3] | 50 m butterfly |
Alshammar’s last brush with injury came at the 2012 Olympics, where she had to miss the opening day’s 400 free relay and the 100 freestyle later in the meet due to a pinched nerve in her neck. She competed in the 50 free on the final day of the meet, finishing sixth in the final.
For the full story, check out DN.se.
Oohh no, my favourite butterflyer