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Top Spanish swimmer Belmonte doubtful over World Championships

Xinhua, July 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

Spanish swimmer Mireia Belmonte has so far failed to confirm whether or not she will compete in the World Championships to be held in the Russian city of Kazan between July 24 and August 9 and has given herself just a 50-50 chance of being fit for the tournament.

The winner of two silver medals in the 2012 Olympic Games and two silver medals and a bronze medal in the 2013 World Championships, held in Barcelona, as well as being the holder of five short-course world records, has been working to recover from a shoulder injury and will leave confirming her participation in Kazan until the last moment.

"If at the end I decide not to go, it will be for the best. If I sacrifice competing in these World Championships, it will be so that I am in condition to compete in the (2016) Olympic Games," said Belmonte in an event held in Madrid.

"My aim is to be fit for the Olympic Games," she said, although she admitted it would be "difficult" to not go to Kazan.

Belmonte explained that her coach, Fred Vergnoux was against her competing in Kazan and had told her it was better not to compete.

"He thinks I have to rest my shoulders and recover well, although I am continuing to work with my legs," she said.

"I have to rest and when everything is well, then I can train to be able to produce my best performances."

"The team goes to Kazan on July 27th and the swimming starts on August 2nd, I suppose that I will know if I can go or not a couple of days before," commented Belmonte, who gave herself a "5 out of 10" chance of being fit.

"Your health is more important than competition. I also need my arms for my normal life," she explained. Endi