Kyle Chalmers withdraws from World Championship team

 

  

Swimming Australia: May 24, 2017: Olympic gold medallist Kyle Chalmers has made the decision to withdraw from the 2017 FINA World Championships team and will by-pass Budapest to focus on his long-term swimming career.

The break will enable Chalmers and his medical team to further explore his heart condition, known as Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT), without the added responsibility of having to be in peak form and ready to compete for Australia in July.

The decision was not made lightly and involved careful consultation with Chalmers’ doctor, his coach Peter Bishop and Australian Dolphins Swim Team Head Coach, Jacco Verhaeren.

On making the tough decision, Bishop said, “We decided it was in Kyle’s best long term interest to get the surgery done sooner rather than later. This will enable Kyle a good recovery period, before preparing for a home Commonwealth Games in 2018”

Swimming Australia Head Coach Verhaeren said the health and well-being of all of the athletes was of paramount importance.

“We are at the beginning of a new Olympic cycle, and for some of our athletes we need to look at longevity to allow them to stay at the highest level for longer. For some that may mean having more of a focus on study, a different season planning with other competitions, or the chance to follow up a niggling injury or medical issue and then comeback refreshed and revitalised when it is right for them.

“Kyle has our full support and we know he will use this time away from competition positively and to his advantage to return for a home Commonwealth Games in 2018 and beyond,” Verhaeren said. 

Chalmers will have the surgery in the coming weeks, while decisions regarding his replacement in the individual 100m freestyle event in Budapest will take place internally and be announced shortly.

Sports & Entertainment Ltd (SEL Manager):

Andrew Gibbs

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
T: +61 (0)417342323