Stephanie Rice Undergoes Second, Minor Shoulder Surgery

In a bit of deja vu, Australian superstar Stephanie Rice has undergone shoulder surgery and pulled out of the remainder of the Queensland State Championships, much like what happened in 2010 at the Pan Pac Championships when her problems first came to a head. It was last year’s version of these State Championships where she made her return after the prior surgery.

Fortunately, this time the surgery was much more minor – it was an arthroscopic surgery to repair a “small tear” in her right tendon, the same shoulder that she injured before. The picture above is one that Rice Tweeted shortly after yesterday’s surgery.

She would go on to say that “Everything else was a-ok and should be back in the water before Christmas,” and “Surgery went really well. Surprised with how much movement I’ve already got back in my shoulder”.

Still, despite the quick recovery (which is delayed as much by the stitches as anything), this will still cause an un-needed interruption in her training cycle.

The problems with her shoulder is believed to be a major factor in why she has announced that she will retire after the 2012 Olympics, even though she will be only 24 at the time. Perhaps after a few years out of the pool, the shoulder will begin feeling better and she will return in time for a 2016 cameo, like we’re seeing her countrymate Michael Klim attempt (Klim’s early retirement was the result of shoulder problems as well).