Swimmer Tully Kearney has withdrawn from the ParalympicsGB team as a result of injury.
Four-time
World Champion Kearney was selected to ParalympicsGB in March on a medical
dispensation as she has been managing an injury throughout 2016.
Despite best efforts from the individual and the support team at British Swimming, Tully has not fully recovered and as a result has chosen to withdraw from the Paralympic Games, which gets underway on Sept 7.
Kearney said: “I’m devastated not to be able to represent GB at the Paralympic Games in Rio. I have worked incredibly hard in training for many years to get to this point in my career and last year was fantastic for me – becoming 4 x World Champion was more than I’d ever dreamt of.
“I have been battling a recent progression in my condition and this, coupled with ongoing shoulder injury over the past six months, has massively affected my ability to train this season. I have fought really hard to find a way back from this and know that I did everything in my power to get to Rio, but it just wasn’t to be.
“Obviously, I hope that there will be a way for me to continue to compete in the sport I love so much next season and beyond. I would like to wish the team all the best for Rio and thank the staff from British Para Swimming and the EIS for their support.”
Chris Furber, National Performance Director for British Para-Swimming, said:
“We all share in Tully’s disappointment in this news. As a team we worked closely with Tully to ensure she had the right support and as much time as possible.
“Our whole medical and coaching team has and will continue to provide the best support possible for Tully. We all wish her a speedy return to competition.”
Kearney will not be replaced in the swimming team.