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Coverage of the World Championships is sponsored by Wylas Timing.
Spain’s Mireia Belmonte, who was in line to win multiple open water and pool swimming medals at the FINA world championships, has officially withdrawn from the competition, citing shoulder issues.
Finalmente no acudiré al mundial de Kazan. Lo he intentado hasta el último momento, pero mi lesión no me deja estar al 100%. 1 .
— Mireia Belmonte (@miss_belmont) July 26, 2015
Roughly translated, Belmonte says in the tweet that her shoulder injury, which she’s fought for about six months, will not allow her to be at peak levels to race for medals. Among the races she was scheduled to swim in the pool were the 200 and 400 individual medleys, 200 buterfly and the 800 freestyle. She was also likely to participate in one or more open water swims.
Belmonte’s new focus is on rehabilitation, with the goal of being at top form for the 2016 Olympics. She won two silver medals in the London Games three years ago in the 800 freestyle and 200 butterfly.
Belmonte would have been Spain’s major medal contender in the pool at the world championships. She wanted to compete, which would have gone against the wishes of her doctors and her coach, Fred Vergnoux.
Her withdrawal adds to the staggeringly high number of elite swimmers who are not competing in Kazan due to illness or injury. Others include reigning 100 free world champion James Magnussen and multiple medal contender Kosuke Hagino. American Matt McLean, Australia’s Brittany Elmslie and France’s Yannick Agnel were also expected to help their team boost numbers on the medal table, but are staying home to recuperate.
