Bruno Fratus, the Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist in the 50m freestyle, confirmed his withdrawal from the Paris 2024 Olympics in an interview with the Brazilian broadcaster TV Globo on Tuesday, April 30.
The 34-year-old swimmer, who is one of the most renowned in Brazil, underwent meniscus surgery on his left knee in February. It was his fifth operation since the 2022 World Championships. Additionally, Fratus underwent shoulder surgery in June 2023.
The Olympic swimming trials for Brazil will be held in Rio de Janeiro the following week.
“All of this made it impossible to prepare to put me in a competitive position for Paris now, less than 100 days [from now],” Fratus stated on his Instagram account. “As difficult as it is, I chose not to compete in the Olympic trials next week and consequently I will not be in Paris.”
He proceeded: “The decision is extremely challenging, but I must first recover my body and psyche. In the past few years, I have battled injuries and surgeries with great perseverance.
Losing the Paris Games is a severe setback. Nevertheless, I was unable to adequately prepare, as I should have done. Fratus clarified that his declaration did not signify retirement from the sport, but rather a withdrawal from his aspirations to compete in Paris. Additionally, the veteran swimmer has won four world medals.
“The protracted recovery periods, excruciating pain, and restricted mobility significantly disrupted the overall strategy,” Fratus lamented regarding the challenges posed by his injuries. “I tried as hard as I could, I dedicated myself as much as I could, but I reached my physical, mental and emotional limit.”While it may be challenging to acknowledge, there comes a time when the individual preceding the athlete must take precedence. Together with my family, my team, and the physicians, I arrived at this conclusion after consulting with them.
