( dpa ) - Triple Olympic swimming champion Jodie Henry won't be in the Australian team to defend her 100-metre freestyle title in Beijing this year, after an injury that will force her to miss next month's selection trials.
Henry, who also anchored Australia to victories in both sprint relays in the Athens Games four years ago, said a pelvic muscle problem ruled her out of the trials. Swimmers must compete for a place in the team.
"It has been a very hard decision to make," Henry said in a statement. "The Olympics is every swimmer's goal and I would have loved to be able to go to Beijing and try and defend my title and to help the girls win another relay."
Henry, 24, became the first Australian woman since Dawn Fraser in 1964 to win the Olympic 100-metre freestyle gold medal but was only sixth at last year's world championships in Melbourne.
She stressed she was not hanging up that black cat suit that Australian swimmers wear these days.
"I'm happy to say I am definitely not retiring as there is no way that I want my swimming career to end like this," Henry said.