Mitcham withdraws from world championships

NSW Institute of Sport diver Matthew Mitcham has been forced to withdraw from competition at the 2011 FINA Aquatic World Championships in Shanghai due to an abdominal injury.

Mitcham, who was scheduled to compete in the men’s 10m platform in Shanghai, suffered the grade 2-3 abdominal tear at the 2011 FINA Diving Grand Prix in Montreal, Canada earlier this year, an event where he won gold in the men’s 10m platform. The injury followed on from stress fractures Mitcham developed last year ahead of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, where he won four silver medals.

“After Montreal the recovery period for the injury was 10 weeks, and I only had eight weeks to work with, so everything had to be condensed,” said Mitcham.

“I was prepared to compete in Shanghai with limited preparation, however the medical advice I received outlined I was five to seven times more likely to suffer another injury that would have sidelined me for three months.”

Although devastated, Mitcham is looking to the future, saying, “Not competing with an injury is the best thing for my Olympic preparation. This is a small sacrifice to make for the bigger picture, which is London next year.”

NSWIS Diving Program Head Coach Chava Sobrino echoed Mitcham’s thoughts, saying, “Injuries are always difficult to deal with, however the best thing for Matthew to do is fully recover from his injury and prepare for next year,” said Sobrino.

Mitcham’s fellow NSWIS divers Alexandra Croak and Melissa Wu will be competing at the world championships. The duo will together take on the women’s 10m synchronised platform, with Croak also competing in the women’s 10m individual platform.

The 2011 FINA Aquatic World Championships take place in Shanghai, China from 16-31 July 2011.