IRVINE – Double Olympic medley champion Stephanie Rice made a successful but brief return to competitive swimming at the Pan Pacific Championships yesterday.

Rice won her 50 metres butterfly heat in personal best of 26.78 but later she has withdrawn from the Championships and will miss the incoming Commonwealth Games due to right shoulder injury.

A statement from Swimming Australian reads:

"Rice, who has been battling the injury for the majority of the year, had planned to manage the shoulder during these championships with a light program in a bid to be right for Delhi, but has made the decision to have surgery on the inflamed joint straight away.


"The Beijing gold medallist in the 200 and 400m IM, and 4x200m freestyle relay will return to Australia next week to have surgery on her right shoulder."

"It’s very disappointing, the Melbourne Commonwealth Games was a fantastic event to be part of, and for me personally, and I was really looking forward to the colour and excitement of Delhi,” said Rice.

“To not be able to compete at 100 per cent here at the Pan Pans has been hard enough, but to make the decision to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games has been very difficult.”

“It’s the right decision long-term though, because the sooner I can get the shoulder looked at properly and have the surgery done, the sooner I can get back in the pool, training at 100 per cent.”

Rice, who is coached by Michael Bohl in Brisbane, has struggled to complete a full training week since the Telstra Australian Swimming Championships in March due to her injured shoulder, and had already planned to swim a reduced program at the Pan Pacific Championships.

“We have to think about London, and work backwards from there,” said Bohl.
 “Having the surgery now will give Steph every chance to be fit for the national trials next year, ahead of the world championships, which ultimately then leads into preparation for London 2012.”

Swimming Australia head coach Leigh Nugent says the loss of Rice for the Pan Pacs and Delhi is disappointing for her and the team.
 “There is no question Stephanie is a fantastic athlete, but unfortunately all athletes have their hurdles,” said Nugent. "The priority is to get her back to top fitness as soon as possible and to do that she will have to miss the rest of the these championships and the Commonwealth Games."

“She will come back stronger from this injury and if last night showed us anything the Australian team is in good hands with Jessicah Schipper, Emily Seebohm and Marieke Guehrer winning gold, and hopefully more to come tonight.”

Rice will remain with the Australian team in California until early next week before returning to Australia.