Aussie Breaststroke Ace Zac Stubblety-Cook Forced Out of World Champs with Back Injury
A back injury has forced Australia’s premier breaststroker Zac Stubblety-Cook out of the Australian Swim Team for this month’s World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.
The Dolphins are preparing in Darwin with the eight-day swimming section of the Championships due to start on July 27, and concluding on August 3.
The Tokyo Olympic champion in the 200 breaststroke in 2021 and former world-record holder, Stubblety-Cook won the world title in 2022 and was runnerup in 2023, before taking silver at the Paris Olympics last year.
Australia will now not field an individual men’s competitor in the 50, 100 or 200 breaststroke events.
Although disappointed to miss the World Championships, Stubblety-Cook said he hoped to be back swimming by the time his Dolphins teammates take to the water in Singapore in two weeks
“It’s disappointing but I had a lot of time off last year and I am committed to the next four years,” Stubblety-Cook said.
“It’s a setback but a minor one and hopefully by the time the pool (starts its campaign) in Singapore – I’ll be back in the water myself.
“My coach Mel Marshall and I both believe my best time is still in me, so I’m still chasing that … and there’s a lot of racing left in me.”
Meanwhile, Swimming Australia has also confirmed that Olympic butterflyer Lizzy Dekkers has been added to the roster following the withdrawal of fellow Paris flyer Abbey Connor for personal reasons.
Dolphins head coach Rohan Taylor confirmed the team changes at a press conference in Darwin where the Dolphins are adjusting for heat and time zone adaptation.
Australia’s individual entries for 2025 World Championships in Singapore (July 27=August 3):
CHALMERS, Kyle: M50FR, M100FR
COLEMAN, Jesse: M50FL, M100FL
COOPER, Isaac: M50BK
EDWARDS-SMITH, Joshua: M100BK, M200BK
GOEDEMANS, Benjamin: M800FR, M1500FR
MCEVOY, Cameron: M50FR
PETRIC, Will: M200IM, M400IM
SCHLICHT, David: M200IM
SHORT, Sam: M400FR, M800FR, M1500FR
SMITH, Brendon: M400IM
SOMMERVILLE, Ed: M200FR
SOUTHAM, Flynn: M100FR, M200FR
TEMPLE, Matt: M100FL
TURNER, Harrison: M200FLY
WINNINGTON, Elijah: M400FR
WOODWARD, Brad: M200BK
CASTELLUZZO, Brittany: W200FLY
DEKKERS, Elizabeth: W200FLY
FORRESTER, Jenna: W400IM
FREDERICKS, Hannah: W50BK, W100BK, W200BK
HARRIS, Meg: W50FR
JOHNSON, Moesha: W800FR, W1500FR (W10km)
KINDER, Tara: W200BR, W200IM
MCKEOWN, Kaylee: W50BK, W100BK, W200BK
O’CALLAGHAN, Mollie: W100FR, W200FR
PALLISTER, Lani: W400FR, W800FR, W1500FR
PERKINS, Alex: US W50FL, W100FLY
PERKINS, Jamie: W200FR, W400FR
PRICE, Lily: W50FL, W100FL
RAMSAY, Ella: W100BR, W200BR, W200IM, W400IM
TOOHEY, Sienna: W50BR, W100BR
WUNSCH, Olivia: W50FR, W100FR
Just curious why Nash Wilkes is not nominated to swim any of the individual breaststroke events? Is she solely going to Singapore for the medley relays? He’s the only breastroker in the team now