Former World Record holder Katie Hoff has scratched from prelims of the women’s 200 IM on Sunday, which was her last scheduled entry at the 2014 U.S. National Championships.
Hoff made big news when, training in Miami, she began a serious comeback earlier this year. Until this week in Irvine, that comeback had been going very well, and the 200 IM was a race where she was within reach of a spot on the Pan Pacs team.
She would only swim one event this week, the 100 freestyle on Wednesday where she wound up placing 27th in prelims in 55.79, before one-by-one scratching the rest of her events.
She Tweeted out earlier today that the problem involved an “intercostal strain,” referring to the groups of muscles that run between the ribs. These muscles are involved in expanding and shrinking the chest cavity during breathing, so swimming can be incredibly painful if any of the muscles are damaged.
Hoff Tweeted out earlier tonight, around 9PM Pacific Time, that she “gave it her best shot to heal,” but that she had to scratch from the 200 IM.
Well I gave it my best shot to heal. Scratched from 200 tonight.disappointed but thankful for @andykershaw03 @TressaGrummer @TandersonMSU
If anybody can get a message to Katie, please tell her she has MANY fans, like me, who believe in her talent and sincerely want to see her continue training and make it onto that Rio Olympic team! This is a set-back, not an ending!
We have a LOT of good swimmers on the US team, but Katie is unique in that she doesn’t have a weak stroke! She’s event swum PB times, to the best of my knowledge, in the 100/200 breast this season (1:08 100 breast!)! Maybe Leverenz can match her in breast and fly, but not back or free. Maybe Margalis can match her in breast, but I think she’s better at the 400 IM. Beisel swims… Read more »
😥 😥 😥 😥 😥 😥 😥 😥 😥 :cry 😥 😥 😥 😥 😥
It’s very cruel. She was back at very high level and looked ready for big things in the 200 IM.
Please Katie, stay positive and focus on Rio now. 🙂
Man, that really sucks. I was hoping that she was gonna make the team in the 200 IM