SYDNEY (AP) — Olympic champion Matthew Mitcham has been ruled out of the Australian diving team for the world championships later this month.
Mitcham tore abdominal muscles competing in a Grand Prix meet in Montreal earlier this year, but hoped to recover in time for the 10-meter platform event at the aquatic world championships, starting July 16 at Shanghai. His focus is on defending his Olympic gold medal.
“Not competing with an injury is the best thing for my Olympic preparation,” Mitcham said. “This is a small sacrifice to make for the bigger picture, which is London next year.”
Mitcham won the 10-meter platform in a stunning upset at the 2008 Olympics, preventing host nation China from sweeping all eight gold medals in diving at the Beijing Games.
