2017 World Champion in the 800 free Gabriele Detti announced on Instagram Tuesday that he was not going to be competing at the European Championships later this summer in Glasgow.
Detti has had questions surrounding his health this summer after he announced in May that he would be sitting out Italy’s training camp for a shoulder injury. The 23-year-old did not compete in Rome at the Sette Colli meet in June alongside national team members Gregorio Paltrinieri and Federica Pellegrini. Detti was in attendance however, but was not in the pool.
Detti posted on Instagram in Italian, and when roughly translated, he said:
“We tried it till the end, but it didn’t go well! In recent weeks, improvements to the left shoulder have been evident and progress has been significant in and out of the water. We did everything we could to try to be ready in time. Despite this, in agreement with society, technical and health staff of the Federation, with great regret I am forced to tell you that I will not participate in the Europeans of Glasgow. We think that this solution is the best way to get back to the maximum in September so as to avoid the risk of new relapses which I cannot afford now. Thank you for all the affection and support you have given me these months and for how beautiful you will continue to give me. I’ll be back soon, it’s a promise!”
Detti is coming off a very good summer where he won gold in the 800 free at the World Championships in Budapest, and a bronze in the 400 free. He also won two bronze medals in the 2016 Olympics in the 400 and 1500 free.
Detti cited his nagging shoulder injury as the reason for dropping out of the competition. Detti was the defending European Champion in the 400 free from the 2016 Championships in London, and won two silvers in the 800 and 1500 two years ago in London behind teammate Paltrinieri. Detti also anchored Italy to the bronze medal in the 4×200 free relay.
The European Championships are just seventeen days away and will be held in Glasgow, Scotland. The LEN already revealed the medals for the Championships.