Double Olympic medallist Jazz Carlin and double Commonwealth medallist Aimee Willmott have been forced to withdraw from the British Swimming team bound for next month’s World Championships in Budapest.
Carlin made the tough decision based on the fact she would be unable to compete at her usual very high standard while Willmott hasn’t fully recovered from an on-going injury.
Commenting on the announcement, British Swimming Head Coach Bill Furniss said: “Both swimmers are a loss to the team but we respect their decisions which we believe will have a positive impact on their long term futures.
“Jazz had a long rest after last year’s Olympics Games, which she needed to do. Since then she has been working hard, despite minor illness and injury, to get herself back into her best competitive shape but feels she isn’t going to be able to get there in time for the World Championships. With a long term view of her career, this is the right decision to take.
“Unfortunately Aimee has been fighting a knee injury for a few months now. A decision has been made as she can’t get herself into a competitive condition in time for the World Championships. Aimee will be taking a longer break this summer in order to fully recover from injury, and then work towards being in the best shape possible at the start of next season.
“I’m disappointed for Jazz and Aimee and it is a loss to the team but we will have lots of athletes fully prepared for the World Championships and we’re looking forward to it.”