California’s Elizabeth Pelton Has Surgery to Fix Broken Hand

Elizabeth Pelton World University Games 2015
Photo Courtesy: Gwangju Summer Universiade Organizing Committee

Elizabeth Pelton, entering her senior season at the University of California, underwent surgery for a broken bone in her hand today according to California Athletics.

Pelton, just back from representing the United States at the 2015 World University Games, sustained the injury during a California practice, and doctors expect Pelton to return to the pool in 4-6 weeks.

Pelton finished her time at the World University Games with a silver in the women’s 100-meter back and an eighth-place finish in the 50-meter backstroke. Pelton also helped the women’s 400-meter medley relay to bronze.

Luckily, the injury comes at a good time during the season as making an NCAA cut should still be fairly pedestrian for the blazing fast backstroker prior to next semester’s championship run as the California Golden Bears look to defend their team title. But, as is the case with many American athletes attending the World University Games, Pelton was likely back in training so quickly to be ready for the USA Swimming nationals next month in San Antonio. Now, she will have to settle with her 1:00.65 from her 100 back in South Korea as her best of 2015, and see if it gets her on the U.S. national team.

Pelton had an impressive 2014-15 season for the Golden Bears as a junior.  She finished second behind teammate Missy Franklin in the 200-yard IM (1:52.80), took fifth in the 100-yard back (51.67) and seventh in the 200-yard back (1:52.08).

She also helped California to an NCAA title in the women’s 800-yard freestyle relay.

With Franklin having turned professional Pelton will be looked to for senior leadership alongside classmate Rachel Bootsma.

 

 

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Bill Bell
Bill Bell
8 years ago

About a quarter-century ago this same type of injury happened to Texas backstroker Neil Walker — but it happened at the NCAA Championships. I think he broke his hand reaching for the touchpad but he still set an American in the 100!

Temu Gunag
8 years ago

Cool go go

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