An injury has hampered Minna Atherton‘s season as she preps for next month’s Australian World Championship Trials.
Atherton, the world record holder in the women’s SCM 100 backstroke, is “currently managing an injury,” Australian National Head Coach Rohan Taylor told SwimSwam. Taylor said Atherton is planning on competing at the trials, though it will “depend on where she is at with her current progression.”
Atherton, who will turn 23 on May 17, competed this past weekend at the Sydney Open (LCM), producing times of 27.64 in the 50 free, 58.59 in the 100 free and 30.24 in the 50 back. Her lifetime bests sit at 25.72, 56.42 and 27.49, respectively.
Specifics of the injury were not provided.
This was her first competition of the year, having last raced at the 2022 Short Course World Championships in Melbourne, where she was nearly six seconds off her personal best time in the 200 back to place 12th (2:05.05).
Atherton, who trains under Chris Mooney at Bond University, was third in all three women’s backstroke events at the 2022 Australian Nationals, missing the World Championship team after winning three medals, including gold in the mixed 400 medley relay and silver individually in the 100 back, in 2019.
Atherton did qualify to represent Australia at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, however, where she finished fourth in the 100 back (1:00.02) and 200 back (2:09.40). Both swims ranked her third in Australia for the 2022 calendar year, trailing Kaylee McKeown and Mollie O’Callaghan.
Atherton’s personal best times in the LCM 50 back (27.49), 100 back (58.60) and 200 back (2:06.82) are all from 2019 and rank her fourth all-time among Australians.
Also in 2019, Atherton went on a tear during the inaugural season of the International Swimming League (ISL), breaking the world record in the women’s SCM 100 back (54.89) while coming within .02 of the all-time mark in the 200 back (1:59.25).
Atherton also won three bronze medals at the 2018 Short Course World Championships, including one individually in the 100 back, and made her initial impact on the international stage at the 2015 World Junior Championships, where she piled up six medals including three gold in the 100 back, 200 back and 400 free relay.
The 2023 Australian World Championship Trials are scheduled for June 13-18.
This explains that. Wishing her the best possible recovery.
Pathetic comment about a world record holder. What have you achieved in your life?
Always liked Minna. Hope she can get back to her best.
Btw the 2022 WSC were in Melbourne, not Brisbane.
The article now has the correct location.