Eight-time Paralympic gold medallist and 2014 Young Australian of the Year Jacqui Freney has made the tough decision to withdraw from the 2015 IPC World Championships team.
Alongside her coach Michael Freney, Jacqui has decided that she will not contest the IPC World Championships due to an ongoing illness that has resulted in an inconsistent training program.
Following impressive performances at the 2015 Hancock Prospecting Australian Swimming Championships, the decision did not come easily with the dual Paralympian now taking time out to rest and recover for the 2016 Paralympics selection meet early April.
Paralympic Performance Manager Adam Pine said it’s disappointing for Jacqui to miss the World Championships but is confident Freney will use this time to recover and prepare to defend her titles in Rio 2016.
“It is very disappointing for Jacqui having performed at such a high level at the selection meet however, after missing some important training due to fatigue it is in her best interests to take a break from the sport to rest,” said Pine.
“Jacqui will undergo further assessment on her condition that will aid in the management of her training program and will allow her to shift her focus to the 2016 Rio Paralympics.”
The now 28-strong IPC World Championships team will depart Australia for the staging camp in Manchester this Tuesday 30 June, before heading to Glasgow for the World Championships starting July 13.
Australia Dolphins Swim Team
2015 IPC World Championships
July 13-19 – Glasgow, Great Britain
Male Athletes: Michael Anderson, 27 (QLD), Timothy Antalfy, 28 (NSW), Jesse Aungles, 19 (SA), Blake Cochrane, 24 (QLD), Timothy Disken, 18 (VIC), Daniel Fox, 23 (QLD), Brenden Hall, 21 (QLD), Guy Harrison-Murray, 17 (WA), Timothy Hodge, 14 (NSW), Braedan Jason, 16 (QLD), Ahmed Kelly, 23 (VIC), Matthew Levy, 28 (NSW), Grant Patterson, 25 (QLD), Rick Pendleton, 30 (QLD), Sean Russo, 23 (NSW), Jacob Templeton, 19 (TAS), Reagan Wickens, 20 (NSW).
Female Athletes: Ellie Cole, 23 (NSW), Taylor Corry, 20 (NSW), Maddison Elliott, 16 (NSW), Tanya Huebner, 36 (VIC), Ashleigh McConnell, 19 (VIC), Monique Murphy, 19 (VIC), Lakeisha Patterson, 16 (QLD), Madeleine Scott, 22 (WA), Tiffany Thomas-Kane, 13 (NSW), Teigan Van Roosmalen, 23 (NSW), Prue Watt, 28 (NSW).
Swimming news courtesy of Swimming Australia.