19 Aug 2010

Aussie swim star could miss Delhi Games

9:15 am on 19 August 2010

Stephanie Rice's shoulder injury may force her out of the Commonwealth Games, with the Australian swim star revealing surgery was looking very possible after failing to make the 50 metre butterfly final at the Pan Pacific Championships in California.

Rice swam a personal best in the 50m butterfly heat, but it was only the 17th best time of the 19 competitors in the event.

The 22-year-old was scheduled to swim in seven events at the Panpacs, but cut it back to three and conceded she could abandon the meet if her right shoulder flares up.

The triple Beijing Olympic gold medallist is suffering an inflamed bursar and has had seven cortisone injections in the shoulder - three more than what doctors recommend for the general population - in the hope of getting her through the Panpacs and to India for the Commonwealth Games in October.