Daiya Seto, the two-time defending world champion in the men's 400-meter individual medley, will have surgery on both heels next month, his management firm said Thursday.
The 21-year-old Seto, who defended his 400 IM title earlier this month in Kazan, Russia, will have the triangular bone removed in his feet on Sept. 15 through endoscopic surgery, the firm said.
Seto felt pain in his left foot during altitude training in the United States ahead of the world championships. The pain went away before the competition, but the bone was discovered not only in his left foot but in the right as well.
Fearing a relapse during the buildup to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics next summer, Seto decided to undergo surgery. He is expected to be able to resume training 10 days after the procedure.