Zac Stubblety-Cook withdraws from Australian Swimming team ahead of World Championships

Australian swimming will be without one of its brightest young stars at the upcoming World Championships after an injury setback floored the Olympic gold medallist.

Lani Pallister, Saoirse Hoare and Zac Stubblety-Cook at the Olympic and Paralympic teams welcome home celebrations at Casuarina shopping centre, Darwin, Oct 2024. Picture: Pema tamang Pakhrin

Australian swimming will be without one of its brightest starts at the upcoming World Championships.

Breaststroker Zac Stubblety-Cook has withdrawn from the team due to a back injury while Olympic butterflyer Lizzy Dekkers has been added to the team following the withdrawal of Abbey Connor due to personal reasons.

Dolphins head coach Rohan Taylor confirmed a number of big name changes to the 40-strong contingent which will represent the nation in Singapore.

Zac Stubblety-Cook claims silver in the Final of the Mens 200m Breastroke at the Paris La Defense Arena. Picture: Adam Head

“It’s the first competition for the cycle towards LA (Olympics), and while LA is what we’re working towards, the World Championships are a critically important meet,” Taylor said.

“We’ve got some newbies on the team, as well as athletes with good experience

“This is an opportunity for all of us to see where we’re at and use that momentum.”

Tokyo gold medallist, world champion and Paris silver medallist Stubblety-Cook said he was deeply disappointed to miss the champs, but was confident of a quick return to the pool.

“It’s disappointing but I had a lot of time off last year and I am committed to the next four years,” Stubblety-Cook said.

“It’s a setback but a minor one and hopefully by the time the pool team dive in Singapore – I’ll be back in the water myself.

“My coach Mel Marshall and I both believe my best time is still in me, so I’m still chasing that, and there’s a lot of racing left in me.”

In Darwin in order to acclimatise to both the heat and time zone, Taylor said the location was a no-brainer for the young squad’s four-year journey.

Australian head coach Rohan Taylor at the Paris Games. Picture: Michael Klein

“The location is a short drop into Singapore, the climate is perfect for our preparation … the Northern Territory has become a premium high-performance destination,” he said.

“And for us it is also an opportunity to engage and connect with the local community and hopefully we can inspire dreams and showcase the pathway of becoming a Dolphin.

“We have started our runway into LA, and to be great in LA, this very young team is going to learn what is needed on the global stage in Singapore, and the journey has started here in the Top End.”

As for the team itself, Kaylee McKeown, Mollie O’Callaghan, Lani Pallister and Meg Harris will lead the charge for the women while Cam McEvoy, Kyle Chalmers and Elijah Winnington will steer the ship for the men.

Originally published as Zac Stubblety-Cook withdraws from Australian Swimming team ahead of World Championships