Japanese swimming star Hagino out of swim worlds for elbow injury

World champion Kosuke Hagino of Japan announced Friday that he will not compete at the Kazan swimming worlds due to an injured right elbow in training.

Hagino, the London Olympic bronze medalist in the 400m individual medley, broke his right elbow, when he fell off a bike at the national team's training camp in France. He returned to Japan on Thursday, and was diagnosed with an elbow fracture.

"This is very regrettable because my form was getting better," the 20-year-old Hagino told a press conference in Tokyo on Friday.

Hagino won the 2012 Olympic bronze in the 400m individual medley, and four golds at the 2014 Asian Games. He won the 200m individual medley, and a silver medal in the 400 individual medley at last year's worlds in Doha.

Meanwhile, Olympic and world 200 meters freestyle champion Yannick Agnel suffered from pleurisy, costing him the chance to defend his title in the world championships in early August.

Park Tae-hwan of South Korea is still in a 18-month-ban after a doping storm. In London's 200m freestyle, Park nailed a silver medal after finishing the tough game with Sun at the same time.

All this enhances Sun Yang's possible domination in Kazan pools. Olympic and world champions Sun had won gold metals in 400m and 1,500m freestyles in London Olympic Games, but Agnel defeated him in 200m race.

The worlds in Kazan, Russia, begin on July 24. Endi