Triple Olympic gold medallist Stephanie Rice has been cleared to return to racing for the first time since undergoing shoulder surgery in December at this week's NSW state swimming titles.
Rice had arthroscopic surgery in December to repair a torn tendon in her right shoulder, in a significant hiccup to her build-up towards Olympic trials in Adelaide from March 15.
But her coach Michael Bohl said yesterday that Rice would fly to Sydney to compete in her pet event, the 400 metre individual medley, tomorrow after experiencing only minor pain during training in Brisbane this week.
Rice is also entered for the 200IM, 200m freestyle and 100m butterfly at the three-day meet at Sydney Olympic Park but Bohl said she was no certainty to take part in those events.
''She's not going to swim just for the sake of swimming,'' Bohl said.
''If her shoulder's a little bit tight after the 400m medley, we'll just make a decision day-by-day.
''We'll just see how it goes.''
Bohl stressed training was the priority for Rice in her recovery.
''She's got to get a really good last five weeks [of preparation] in so we're not going to go and swim in five or six races and come back and be no good for two weeks,'' Bohl said. ''We're not going to take that gamble.''
Others using the meet to tune up their preparations for trials include James Magnussen, Nick D'Arcy, Eamon Sullivan, Geoff Huegill, Emily Seebohm, Libby Trickett and Leisel Jones.
.gif)
