Japanese diver Ken Terauchi, who has placed in the top eight in the past two Olympics, has given up on participating in the world swimming championships this summer as he is yet to recover from a heel injury, swimming sources said Friday.
Terauchi was dubbed a medal hopeful at the July 17-31 world championships in Montreal, Canada, but will not be able to take part in the men's springboard because of the left heel injury he sustained during his training tour in China in March.
The injury also forced him out of a qualifying meet last month and the Japan Swimming Federation agreed to give him a second chance to book his berth through the Grand Prix meet in Rome in June, but Terauchi decided Thursday he is not ready to return to action.