Jade Edmistone Withdraws from World Swimming Grand Prix in Japan

BELCONNEN, Australia, July 18. JADE Edmistone, the world record in the 50-meter breaststroke, has elected to withdraw from Australia's contingent set to compete at the inaugural World Swimming Grand Prix in Chiba, Japan due to illness.

Edmistone was struck down with a respiratory infection during the recent Mare Nostrum tour of Europe and has subsequently struggled to train consistently since.

The 2005 World champion was finally able to train at a satisfactory intensity last Thursday but it has been decided by Edmistone and coach Stephan Widmer, in consultation with National Head Coach Alan Thompson that the 25-year-old would be better remaining in Australia to train.

"Jade was sick in Europe and did a great job to race well but as soon as she got home she got worse and couldn't train for a period," said Widmer, who was also effected by the virus, missing the first sessions because of illness in his 14 year career. "Since then Jade has struggled to get any consistency or intensity in training until last week and we think it is going to be better for her to stay in Brisbane rather than go to Japan and race when she is not prepared. She will now be able to get a good block of work done and there is plenty of racing ahead of the Olympic Trials in March."

Edmistone's withdrawal brings the Telstra Dolphins squad for the Japan meet, which will be swum from August 21-24, to 29 swimmers. She will not be replaced.

Special thanks to Swimming Australia for contributing this report.

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