Five-time Olympic backstroke champion Kaylee McKeown has pulled out of this summer’s Commonwealth Games with glandular fever.
The 24-year-old Australian, who holds the Olympic, world and Commonwealth 100m and 200m backstroke titles, will also miss the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in August.
McKeown said she is “gutted to medically withdraw” from the events, but said it was the right decision.
The Games in Glasgow, Scotland take place from 23 July to 2 August, with the six-day swimming event starting on 24 July.
“What I thought a few months ago was the flu has turned out to be my body fighting glandular fever,” said McKeown.
“I was sick going into trials and I just have not got better and I am worried about pushing myself so hard that I end up with chronic fatigue.
“It was a hard decision to make but it was the right one.”
Swimming Australia head coach Rohan Taylor said he respects and supports McKeown’s decision to “prioritise health”.
Taylor added: “We all know how fierce and competitive she is – and she showed that by performing the way she did at trials.
“Kaylee is a once-in-a-generation athlete. She is what we call a racer.”
