Larkin has to drop swim

HE was to be the Australian team’s Superman, tackling five individual events in the pool, but scheduling has proved to be Mitch Larkin’s Commonwealth Games kryptonite.

Larkin has pulled out of the 400m individual medley to concentrate on his pet backstroke events, with the former world champion determined to regain a spot at the top of the podium.

Larkin tackled a marathon program at the swimming trials on the Gold Coast last month and was determined to repeat the dose at the Games.

But when the schedule was finalised, Larkin and coach Dean Boxall realised he would have only 15 minutes to recover from the medley before lining up for his pet backstroke final on April 6.

Larkin’s St Peters Western squadmate Clyde Lewis will take on the event.