Australia’s Petria Thomas Injured, Pulls Out of “Duel,” World Champs

By Stephen J. Thomas

SYDNEY, March 17. IN what amounts to a huge loss for the Australian team, triple-gold medalist Petria Thomas has pulled out of this year's World Swimming Championships in Barcelona to have more shoulder surgery.

She has also withdrawn from next month's "Duel in the Pool" with the U.S.

Australian team high performance director Greg Hodge announced today that the 2001 world champion in the 100m butterfly, 200m butterfly and 400m medley relay would not compete in the selection trials next week for the World Champs in Barcelona.

The 27-year-old who is no stranger to surgery, having only just recovered from an abdominal operation in December, has had a history of shoulder problems that have required major surgery on both in the past.

Thomas will be a huge loss to the Aussie women's team for the "Duel in the Pool" in the US next month and in Barcelona in July. On recent form, the "Iron Woman" of the team would likely have competed in the three individual butterfly and three relay events and possibly the 200 free at the World Champs. Among many great swims in 2002, her brilliant butterfly leg at the Pan Pac's last year put the Aussie women in a position to take gold over the U.S. in the medley relay.

Earlier this month Thomas was named the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) athlete of the year.

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