Australian Cate Campbell and Sweden’s Therese Alshammar have both scratched out of the 100 free prelims on Wednesday morning, with one of those coming as a bigger surprise than the other.
Campbell came in ranked 8th in the world in this race, and presumably has scratched to focus on the women’s 400 medley relay. According to the Australian Olympic Committee, she pulled out because of “gastro” and will concentrate on the 50.
Her teammate Melanie Schlanger was really good in these same prelims, and is the Australian National Champion, so she belongs on the finals medley relay that takes place Wednesday. Campbell could still swim that race in prelims.
The scratch of Alshammar is not so much of a surprise, as she’s been battling a pinched nerve in her neck that has limited her shoulder rotation. She said in a press conference on Tuesday, though, that she will swim the 50 free, an event in which she was the fastest in the world in 2011.
Let`s hope she doesn`t shit herself in the pool during the 50.
It is starnge that you are skeptical Campbell has gastro.
Campbell was never going to swim the 4×100 medley final
Your presumption that she pulled out to focus on 4×100 medley is non-sensical.
Yeah, not sure where they came up with that bizarre notion. I think she realizes she is a better chance in the 50, so probably saving herself.
I agree that her chance to medal in 50 is much better than in 100. I have a personal interest, I have her to win bronze in the 50 in my picks 🙂
I hope she and Alshammar will get much better.
I understood his use of quotes to mean that the Australian OC had called it “gastro,” not that there was skepticism.