Injury Forces Waterfield Out of Diving World Cup

LEICESTERSHIRE, England, July 10. OLYMPIC, World and Commonwealth medalist Peter Warfield has been forced out of this month's XV FINA Diving World Cup held in Changshu, China after tearing a thumb ligament in training.

The Southampton diver injured his thumb when he hit the water during a routine on Thursday and has now been advised to stop diving for up to a month while his ligament heals.

With platform synchro partner Leon Taylor (City of Sheffield) also missing through injury, it also is a massive loss to the British team due to compete July 19-23.

"It's a huge disappointment for me," Waterfield said. "but I can't risk doing any more damage. I've had a bad thumb before and in the past we've been able to treat it but this time it's the ligament that's gone and the only thing to do is to splint it and rest for four weeks."

Waterfield, who took individual silver off the 10-meter platform at this year's Commonwealth Games, is now looking to the future with the 2008 Olympics as his main focus.

"I didn't want to go to the World Cup and dive badly without the proper training behind me," Waterfield said. "I've had a good year and didn't want to end it with a bad performance because I'm not in the right shape. There are some massive opportunities ahead of me and if I dive and damage it further it could put me out of the water for up to three months."

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