Short Course superstar Stanislav Donets of Russia underwent surgery this morning to correct a shoulder issue.
Donets has had pain in his shoulder for the past several years, including in 2010 when he won two short course World Championships, but has survived until now on some minor treatments. At Russian Short Course Nationals, however, the pain became too strong, and after undergoing some tests at a local hospital it was determined that he had a stress-fracture in the shoulder.
After the Russian Federation sent him to a top specialist, however, it was discovered that he was misdiagnosed. The pain was revealed to be the result of torn ligaments or muscles years ago. Some scar tissue developed at the site of the tear (a “cicatrix” to be precise) and this is what has been causing Donets’ pain.
Reports from the surgeon are that all went extremely well with the surgery that is characterized as very popular among athletes. The rehab time is expected to be very short and in enough time to allow for full recovery in time for Aprils’ Olympic Trials, but he will miss the European Championships. At those European Short Course Championships, he has won 4-consecutive continental titles in the 100 back.
Hopefully the recovery goes well, as it caused a less-than-spectacular World Championship meet for him.
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