BERLIN, 10 December 2003 — World record holder Franziska van Almsick of Germany has pulled out of the European short course championships starting in Dublin tomorrow because of sinusitis, German daily Bild reported yesterday.
“I was really looking forward to the European championships, it was an important stage in preparation for the Olympics. But it is simply not possible,” the 25-year-old told Bild. The German, who has never won an Olympic gold medal, plans to retire after next year’s Summer Games in Athens.
Van Almsick staged a remarkable comeback at last year’s European championships in Berlin, winning five gold medals and breaking her own world record for the 200 meters freestyle.
