2019 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- All sports: Friday, July 12 – Sunday, July 28, 2019
- Pool swimming: Sunday, July 21 – Sunday, July 28, 2019
- The Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center, Gwangju, Korea
- Meet site
- FinaTV Live Stream
- Live results
Just days out from the start of pool swimming at the 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships, 20-year-old Shayna Jack of Australia announced her sudden departure from training camp.
As we reported on July 14th, the St. Peters Western freestyle ace announced via her personal Instagram that she was withdrawing from the world’s largest aquatic competition outside of the Olympic Games due to personal reasons.
Despite reaching out to various sources within the Swimming Australia community, we’re no nearer to finding out any more details regarding Jack’s shocking withdrawal. And it appears we’re not alone, as the SA coaching staff itself has been left in the dark as to Jack’s situation.
Per Yahoo Sports, Griffith University and Dolphins coach Michael Bohl said of the reason for Jack’s departure, “We are not exactly sure. She left the team which we are obviously very disappointed about but she has left for personal reasons.”
He continued, “We all respect the privacy she has asked for and we will find out in time.
“There has been absolutely no indication. We were just told at a team meeting that she has had to go.
“We respected that but we are moving ahead positively. Sometimes you lose people along the way – hopefully, we find out in the next two, three, four weeks.”
Jack had a remarkable Aussie World Trials last month, putting up personal bests across the sprint events to stake her claim on the women’s 4x200m free and 4x100m free relay. Jack collected a 200m free time of 1:56.37 for bronze in Brisbane, while also nailing a time of 53.18 for 4th in the historic women’s 100m free final that was faster than the Rio Olympic final.
Of her withdrawal, it’s business as usual from the coaching perspective, according to Bohl. “In a perfect world it would have been great to have her here but we have girls who will step up and do a terrific job.
“You have to take the emotion of things and the facts are we don’t have an athlete, it is like a footy team that loses a halfback – another comes in and you push ahead, it is the same with us.”
Even with Jack having finished in relay-worthy slots at Aussie World Trials, Bohls says, “There is nothing saying Shayna was the person going in. With Madi [Wilson] or Bri [Brianna Throssell] she was at risk of losing her position anyway.
“Shayna wasn’t in a position where she was 100 percent guaranteed a finals swim – she had to get into the heats and prove herself.”
Sorry to be negative but I don’t see the point of the article. The headline has the promise of info but at the end of the day the article can be summed up as “I don’t know. We’ll get by without her.”
Pretty much the gist of it.. although Australian swimmers are not really getting as much publicity these days compared to the days of Thorpe and Hackett .. we don’t even get to see world champs on free tv anymore
Sorta surprised by that, the team is really good this cycle.
This seems very suspect..
Could be a family issue , mental health issue , anything. Everyone should be patient.
So he’s saying… they don’t know Jack
Dad jokes for the win
He is not her coach .
He’s the Dolphins Coach, when they travel as a team, they are the Dolphins. She is a member of the Dolphins. But yes, he isn’t her personal coach.
Oh I didn’t know she now trains with Dean after separating from Simon
And I’m sure Jacco knows all the details of what’s going on
As I stated , he is not her coach .. Its a disservice to speak out over her own coach who has ,like your impressive travelogue outlines , travelled along , maybe even via an aeroplane on a window seat with a snack .
Well apparently out of the whole swimming australia team, only Bohl would comment about this”Shayna jack” issue therefore he gets quoted.. I think
That’s a smart way of looking at it. what everyone wants to know I guess is whether it was a voluntary departure or was it forced upon her to leave.. the question remains.
In terms of the relay, I would probably not risk it and swim the Campbells plus Throssell and Madi Wilson in heats.. saving McKeon for finals action
My hunch was the same. Lead-off with Bronte, Wilson & Throssel in the middle swimming for a finals spot, then allow Cate to judge how much she needs to give anchoring. Chuck McKeon in for finals.
Fully agree with both Verram & Dee as regards 4X100. With regards the 4X200, her withdrawal means that now they can realistically only rest one out of McKeon & Titmus from heats unless they co-opt Melverton. As it is, bringing in the perennially underperforming Neale may see them in a less central lane for the finals than they would wish for.
I don’t think there is any indication it was forced on her…everyone seems genuinely stunned.