Reigning Australian World Champions Cate Campbell, James Magnussen and Christian Sprenger will attempt to defend those titles in Kazan this summer, but will have an uphill battle in their quest for that goal.
Each one of the Australian stars is suffering from significant injuries which have and/or will keep them out of full training for a significant amount of time. Campbell recently underwent shoulder surgery, Magnussen is suffering from a herniated disc in his back while Sprenger continues to deal with a recurring shoulder injury.
Campbell had the best season of the three, winning individual gold at the Pan Pacific Championships in the 50 and 100 freestyle, taking the 100 freestyle and finishing second in the 50 freestyle at the Commonwealth Games and ending the season as the top ranked swimmer in both the 50 and 100 freestyle events.
She recently underwent a surgery last week where doctors shaved off approximately 1 cm of bone which was causing damage to the cartilage in her shoulder. Campbell, who has struggled with health concerns in the past, is focused on the 2016 Olympics in Rio and will not rush her body back to training, “It is only two years to go til Rio and there is lots of work still to be done,” Campbell told the Courier-Mail.
“I try not to look at the calendar, it scares me a little bit.”
“Trials next year is definitely the main focus, it will depend on how I’m feeling. I don’t want to come back before I feel like I’m at my best again, merely out of self-confidence that wouldn’t be the best thing for me.”
“I’m going to wait until I’m in peak physical condition again.”
Campbell has done a remarkable job of rebuilding her confidence after having her performances at the last Olympics compromised due to pancreatitis and will be careful not to do anything to derail those efforts.
Magnussen won Commonwealth Games gold in the 100 freestyle and finished second in the 50 freestyle. He went into the Pan Pacific Championships with the world’s top time in the 100 freestyle, but was not able to swim at his best collecting a bronze in the event. He also had to pull out of the Singapore Swim Stars event due to his back injury.
He has been having trouble walking and doing any training, other than riding a stationary bike.
“I was ready for a few weeks of rest and recovery to really freshen up both physically and mentally,” Magnussen told the Courier-Mail.
““My back was certainly feeling the wear and tear from a long racing season through Pan Pacs and it has been good to take a really good rest to let it recover.”
“My medical team are very confident that there are no major concerns with my back, no surgery required or anything like that.”
“We have set a very comprehensive plan to set myself up well with regards to my back and overall physical performance into 2015 and beyond.”
Sprenger had a strong start to the 2014 season heading into the Commonwealth Games with the world’s top times in both the 50 and 100 breaststroke events, eventually collecting the bronze in the 50 and missing the final in the 100 due to his injured shoulder. His shoulder appears to be improving after receiving a cortisol shot, but still cannot train any breaststroke due to the pain.
“The finish line is coming, it’s just not as fast as I would have hoped,” Sprenger told the Courier-Mail.
“As soon as I do a breaststroke stroke, the pain sets in and you slink back into the chair and you begin to doubt yourself again.”
“I will just keep positive and keep working on what’s working.”
“I want to be back up to swimming world-class times again by trials next year and I think that’s a realistic goal.”