French star Yannick Agnel is the latest big-name swimmer to pull out of the Short Course World Championships, set to take place next week in Doha, Qatar.
Coming off of the French Short Course Championships this past weekend, Agnel told French newspaper L’Équipe that he’s not ready physically or technically to compete in Doha next week.
You can read his full quotes (in their original French) in the L’Équipe story here, but they roughly translate to the following: “I’m not ready physically and technically, I’ve missed too much training. But that’s normal. Considering the last sporting year, it was too complicated.”
Agnel has had a busy 2014 that included a cross-continental relocation and a major training change. Agnel started the year in the United States with Bob Bowman‘s North Baltimore professional group, but switched his training base back to France just a few months ago. He now trains with former National Team Director Lionel Horter with the Mulhouse Club.
Agnel swam to a 1:45.78 in the 200 free – the race in which he’s the reigning Olympic gold medalist – at French Nationals over the weekend, but scratched out of the event after prelims.
The L’Équipe story indicates that Agnel will get back to his training for a solid stretch before competing again in mid-January. His next major meet will be the French Long Course Championships (March 31-April 5, 2015), the nation’s qualifier for the 2015 Long Course World Championships in Kazan, Russia.
Well summarized Jared.
Of course you have translated thanks to your big French skills. 😉
Haha thank you Bobo. Google did most of the work… I’m learning Spanish at the moment, but you may inspire me to put French next on my list!