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Shoulder surgery puts Kowalski in Games doubt

By Catriona Dixon, The Daily Telegraph, 30 June 1999

TRIPLE Olympic medallist Daniel Kowalski has been forced out of the Pan Pacific Championships and his swimming future is in doubt due to a shoulder injury.

The champion freestyler, who was the first person in 92 years to win medals in the 200m, 400m and 1500m freestyle at the 1996 Olympics, underwent exploratory surgery in Melbourne yesterday in a bid to rectify the problem before the Sydney 2000 Games.

He will be unable to swim for at least a month, thus ruling him out of the team for the Pan Pacs in Sydney from August 22-29.

Kowalski's withdrawal comes as a significant blow to the Australian team. He was considered a medal hope in the 400m and 1500m freestyle and was expected to fight for a place in the glamour men's 4x200m freestyle relay team.

Voted the swimmers' swimmer last year, the 23-year-old freestyler also plays an integral leadership role in the team.

"It is a bit sad and scary," said Kowalski, who was treated by Dr Greg Hoy, the same surgeon who operated on World Cup hero Shane Warne's shoulder.

"I've been through so many difficulties – this is another opportunity down the drain but I have to look at the bigger picture.

"I've been going to the doctors for three to four years and saying I thought something was wrong . . . at least now I know something is wrong.

"I will do whatever needs to be done. I don't have any choice . . . but a reconstruction is out – it is only 11 months to the trials and it is too tight – you need six to seven months rehabilitation for that."

Kowalski will spend the next month recovering from the arthroscope in Melbourne – a city he calls his home away from home – liaising constantly with his coach Denis Cotterell on the Gold Coast throughout the process.

His withdrawal from the Pan Pac team and the uncertainty of his future due to the shoulder could provide an opening for dual Olympic champion Kieren Perkins who is trying win a place on the Australian team for the 2000 Games to defend his 1500m freestyle title.

Only two swimmers will earn the right to represent Australia in each event at the 2000 Olympics.

Grant Hackett already has a claim on one of the 1500m freestyle positions as the only swimmer clocking sub-15 minute times at present, leaving Kowalski, Perkins and newcomer Craig Stevens to fight out for the second spot.

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