Japanese medal hope Tomoko Hagiwara has withdrawn from the upcoming Asian Games in South Korea, due to a stress-related illness, officials of the Japan Swimming Federation (JSF) said Tuesday.
Hagiwara captured the gold medal in the women's 200-meter individual medley at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships last month but then pulled out of the meet after she twice passed out from stress and fatigue.
The 22-year-old Sydney Olympian has been hospitalized since the end of August and is being treated for breathing problems brought on by stress.
Hagiwara, who became the first swimmer in the history of the National Championships to win four titles in a single meet in June, was scheduled to compete in seven events at the Games in Pusan.