Taylor Ruck (Hand) Pulls Out of Return to Racing at George Haines International
Canadian Olympian Taylor Ruck has pulled out of this weekend’s George Haines International Meet in what was due to be her return to racing.
Ruck has been out since April with a broken hand suffered in a skateboarding accident. The missed Bell Canadian Trials in April but was named by Swimming Canada to its roster for this summer’s World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. The injury, however, is not quite ready for Ruck to test it in competition yet.
“While Taylor has been making good progress, with any return many things have to be considered,” Swimming Canada High Performance Director John Atkinson said in a statement to CBC Sports. “While the plan was to race at Santa Clara, after a review this will not happen. Taylor will continue to work with her coach (Greg Meehan) at Stanford and we will plan to meet next week.”
The delay does not rule Ruck out of Worlds, but it takes away one of the key tune-up chances ahead of that meet. Ruck had a strong NCAA season with Stanford, where she repeated as the 200 free champion.
Ruck is the latest blow to the Canadian relay program. Penny Oleksiak followed a similar trajectory in recent months in her rehab from a knee injury last fall – first missing Canadian Trials, then being selected for Worlds and slating a return to action. The progress in her return at Mare Nostrum, though, wasn’t what she had hoped for, and she’s since pulled out of Worlds to reevaluate her rehab.
Ruck is a big piece for a Canadian relay program that took silver in the 400 free, bronze in the 400 medley and finished fourth in the 800 free in Tokyo, the latter two while setting national records. While Summer McIntosh has grown into an unquestioned place in the 800 free relay, the sprint relays remain question marks without Oleksiak and Ruck. Canada is also rebuilding after the significant loss of Kayla Sanchez, who changed her international representation to the Philippines. Fukuoka is a pivotal dry run and chance for qualification ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
As with MOC with the hurt knee Down Under, take great care, Taylor (and Canadian swimming). Next year’s Olys are a lot more important than these WCs. You want to make sure there can be no possible setback with the hand, and also no potential for loss of confidence if the WC meet doesn’t go your way if the recent compromise in training happens to hang your performance up. Mind the manor!