Inge Dekker has suffered a stress fracture in her heel, which will keep her out of next week’s Open Dutch Swim Championships, according to Ed.nl.
The 26-year old defending World Champion in the 50 fly injured her foot while doing some cross-training at Mont Ventoux with her French club team at Marseilles. This left her in a temporary walking cast for a few weeks, and though she was still able to swim, it left her with some challenge in her starts. Rather than risk further injury, Dekker has decided to sit out the meet that will also stand as the first qualifying opportunity for the 2012 Olympics.
She will now have to rely on next year’s Swim Cup series in Amsterdam and back in Eindhoven to qualify for the Olympics. Her qualification in her primary event the 100 fly is not in much doubt, nor is a spot in the 400 free relay that is the favorites for gold. The 50 free is where her qualification could be left in doubt by this absence.
For full start lists for the meet, click here. Among other participants will be a large South African contingent, including many of their top female swimmers.
Stanislav Donets has stress fracture too but in the shoulder, he will skip European SCM championship