INJURY FORCES TAYLOR OUT OF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Olympic and World medallist Leon Taylor has been forced to
pull out of the Melbourne World Championships after failing
to recover in time from a lower back injury.
Taylor (City of Sheffield) underwent a fitness test today
but results left British Diving medical staff and management
with no option but to withdraw the 2005 World Championship
medallist from Sunday's 10m Synchro.
The announcement comes just four days after Taylor was advised
to pull out of the individual 10m event but he had hoped that
given more time his condition would have improved.
"Ever since the turn of the year I've found myself on
the back foot through injury and illness," said Taylor.
"I had a chest infection, was just getting back into
form and then suffered a neck injury. I returned to form once
again and then was hit by a back injury. That's been my story
all year.
"Every time I get back into training something else
crops up and sets me back again. I've managed everything that's
been thrown at me this year but I've simply run out of time.
"I tweaked my lower back some weeks ago and I've not
been able to train properly. We've tried, and the medical
staff have done an excellent job, but it's not as though you
can take it easy when you're diving off the high board.
"You have to have that explosive ability every time
you dive whether training or not. You can't do an easy routine,
you have to practice what you plan to use in competition and
if you're being held back that's when other injuries occur."
It's a real blow for Taylor who spent last year undergoing
surgery to a long term shoulder injury which required months
of recuperation and rebuilding.
The only positive to come out of Melbourne for Taylor is
that the injury isn't thought to be long term and he plans
to get back into the water as soon as he can to prepare for
the Beijing Olympics next year.
"I wasn't able to complete the fitness test today so
the difficult decision had to be made. My aim was to come
here to win medals as we've done in the past so it's hard
to swallow," said Taylor.
"The sensible decision has been made and now I need
to refocus on getting over the injury and getting my fitness
back. I've adjusted my goals and the next step is to qualify
Britain for the Olympics in the Men's 10m Synchro at next
year's World Cup.
"These World Championships provide one of two chances
to qualify for the Olympics so we've still got it all to do
at the final opportunity in Beijing next February.
"It's very upsetting not to be competing here. The team's
already had some injury problems and it would have been good
to have some good news today but it's not to be.
"Missing out here will really drive me though over the
next year to make sure I'm fitter, stronger and more determined
than I've ever been before."
Britain will not replace Taylor in Sunday's 10m Synchro event.
Partner Pete Waterfield (Southampton Diving) will still dive
in the 10m individual event on Saturday.
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