Swimming Australia has announced that Brittany Elmslie has withdrawn from Team Australia for the 2015 FINA World Swimming Championships in Kazan, Russia. Elmslie underwent surgery three weeks ago to have a benign growth removed from a breast, and felt she wouldn’t be ready to perform at her highest level in Kazan.
At 21, Elmslie is one of The Dolphins’ more decorated international swimmers. She won Olympic gold in London in 2012 as a member of Australia’s 4×100 freestyle relay, and silver medals in both the 4×200 freestyle relay and 4×100 medley relay.
She also earned silver medals in the 4x100m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle relays at the 2013 FINA World Championships in Barcelona, gold medals in the 4x100m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle relays in Glasgow at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, and a gold (4×100 freestyle relay) and silver (4x200m freestyle relay) at the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships on Australia’s Gold Coast.
Elmslie had been named to Team Australia to compete in the 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle relays in Kazan. National Head Coach Jacco Verhaeren has not yet announced whether or not he will replace her on the roster, and if so, with whom.
Elmslie is reportedly turning her focus to getting ready for the upcoming Australian Olympic Trials, which will take place in April 2016 in Adelaide. She is the second member of the Dolphins team to withdraw from the team; James Magnussen pulled out last month and has since undergone shoulder surgery.
Scary stuff. 21 is far too young for a woman to have to worry about whether the lump is just a cyst or something far worse. Best wishes that she does not have recurring problems.
From a sporting standpoint, I think it’s going to hurt the Aussies 4×200 more than their 4×100.