Injury woes rock Wu
AUSTRALIA’S most experienced diver will have to rely on discretionary selection to the Commonwealth Games team after being forced to pull out of next week’s trials with injury.
Triple Olympian Melissa Wu has been forced to pull out of the trials at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre after an MRI detected four bulging discs in her neck.
The 25- year- old took to social media to reveal she would not compete next week after disappointing news from her scans.
“Unfortunately my MRI results were not what I was hoping for, so I’ve had to withdraw from next week’s Commonwealth Games trials,” Wu wrote on Instagram.
“It’s definitely frustrating to have worked so hard to prepare for trials only to have injury get the better of me.”
Wu competed in the FINA Grand Prix on the Gold Coast last month, winning gold with Taneka Kovchenko in the 10m synchronised event.
The first and second- placed athletes in the 3m and 10m divisions at the Commonwealth Games trials will win selection as long as they achieve the minimum score mandated by Diving Australia.
But the national body has the discretion to select a third athlete for the individual events and second synchronised team, with Wu’s track re- cord leaving her likely to win selection despite her injury dramas.
Wu took part in a training camp on the Gold Coast just last week in the lead- up to trials but her neck issues, as well as ongoing knee problems will keep her from competing next week.
However, she remains committed to competing at next year’s Commonwelath Games and paid tribute to the specialist sports physiotherapy team at Precision Athletica in Sydney for their ongoing efforts on her rehabilitation.
“I will continue to work hard with them to overcome this injury and get this battered old body ready for next year,” she said.