Mireia Belmonte Opts Out of Spanish Summer Nationals; Still On for Kazan

A Spanish publication released a report today, which is further forecasting doubt on Spanish superstar, Mireia Belmonte‘s ability to compete at the 2015 FINA World Championships already coming up at the end of this month. Her coach, Fred Vergnoux, says that Kazan is still in the cards.

Belmonte had pulled out of several big meets recently, including the Mare Nostrum Tour, as well as June’s Sette Colli Trophy in Italy, due to a nagging shoulder injury, which was later diagnosed as ‘bursitis’.  In addition to opting out of the aforementioned meets, Belmonte also pursued a form of stem cell treatment called ‘Platelet Rich Plasma Replacement’ to help speed along the recovery and strengthen the joint even faster.

Feeling stronger and over the hump of recovery, Belmonte moved forward with competing at her nation’s Open Water National Championships in late June, placing high enough to earn a spot on Spain’s open water roster for the 5k event.  That race would be added to her already grueling schedule of the in-pool events of 200/400 IM, 200 Fly, 200/400/800/1500 freestyles.

According to él Periódico, even now Belmonte is still suffering from painful bursitis and the article cast a shadow on the possibility of Belmonte indeed continuing with the plan to compete in Kazan.  This is due to the fact that the swimmer is most likely pulling out of the 2015 Spanish Nationals set to take place in Barcelona July 8-12th. Belmonte was scheduled to swim  four events over the course of the meet – 200m butterfly, 200m IM, 400m IM and 400m freestyle.

Regarding the Barcelona meet, Belmonte’s long-time coach, Vergnoux, told SwimSwam this morning that, “we might simply skip the meet in order to maintain her recovery and be ready for Kazan.  She will try to be ready to compete at Worlds.”

Further, Vergnoux told SwimSwam directly that Belmonte’s not swimming in Spain is just “a precaution; there is no ‘need’ to race now, so we are focusing on training and getting fit.” The Coach did share a possible change in the plan for Kazan, however, saying that Belmonte “will probably take Open Water out and then decide on-site about pool events.”

For swim enthusiasts everywhere, the hope is that Belmonte will swim in Kazan and not suffer the same fate as other several elite swimmers who have been plagued by the ‘Kazan Curse’.  Australia’s James Magnussen, Brittany Elmslie, Kylie Palmer, along with Japan’s Kosuke Hagino, USA’s Michael Phelps, South Korea’s Park Tae-Hwan and Swede Therese Alshammar will all be absent in Kazan due to injury or suspension.