Australian breaststroker Taylor McKeown is the latest swimmer to withdraw herself from this weekend’s Aquatic Super Series in Perth, the tri-national meet among hosts Australia, and visitors China and Japan.
McKeown was slated to swim the 200m breaststroke event tomorrow, where she was listed as the 3rd seed with a time of 2:23.77. Placed above her is Japan’s Rie Kaneto (2:21.90) and teammate Tessa Wallace (2:23.34), with rising breaststroking star Aussie Georgia Bohl exhibitioning as the 4th seed in 2;25.67.
According to The West Australian, McKeown is pulling out of the competition due to a groin tear, as revealed by recent scans. The report is that the injury is ‘not believed to be too serious’, but it was enough to keep the 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medalist out of the women’s 100 breast today and will indeed keep her from competing on day 2.
With two other Aussie breaststrokers ready to take on the field in the 200 tomorrow, McKeown will not be replaced on the Dolphins’ roster.
Chinese megastar Sun Yang announced just days ago he would be withdrawing from the competition due to a foot injury incurred during dryland practice, while his teammate Xu Danlu was also forced to withdraw due to injury. This was already on top of Dolphin David McKeon declining the invitation to compete, wanting to instead focus on training.