- Emma McKeon's Olympic Games preparations have taken a hit
- She was missing from the championships in Queensland
- She has a small tear under her armpit
Emma McKeon's preparations for the Paris Olympics have taken a hit after it was revealed Australia's most decorated Olympic athlete is struggling with a torn muscle under her armpit.
McKeon was due to race alongside the returning Cate Campbell in the 100m freestyle heats at the Queensland Swimming Championships in Brisbane on Monday.
But her court was empty, and the 11-time Olympic medalist's coach, Michael Bohl, later confirmed she had been withdrawn as a precaution.
Bohl said McKeon had been suffering from “a small tear under her armpit” for a few weeks and that the medical advice was not to rush back to competition.
The championships at Chandler's Brisbane Aquatic Center are the final meeting of the year.
Emma McKeon was a notable absence from the Queensland championships on Monday
The Olympic swimming trials will take place at the same location from June 10, about five weeks before the 2024 Games in Paris.
McKeon won four gold medals at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics for a total of seven medals.
It was the highest number of medals by any female swimmer at a single Olympic Games and the highest number of medals in any sport, tied with Soviet gymnast Maris Gorokhovskaya, who achieved the feat in 1952.
Campbell, who is vying to become the first Australian to swim in five Olympic Games, has returned to competition this year after an extended break following the Tokyo Games.
She took positive steps on Monday morning, winning her heat in 53.73 seconds, third behind top qualifier Shayna Jack (53.03).
Pop star and swimmer Cody Simpson, who is also McKeon's boyfriend, qualified fastest for Monday night's 100m butterfly final in a boost to his Olympic selection numbers.
He was slightly off the pace in the 100m freestyle heats shortly afterwards, but still sneaked into the final after several withdrawals.
The race also serves as a comeback for Ariarne Titmus, who qualified fastest for Monday's 400-meter freestyle final, an event in which she is the world record holder.
On Sunday evening, Titmus was relegated to silver in the 200 meter freestyle, defeated by new world record holder Mollie O'Callaghan.
It is the first race for Titmus since she revealed in September that benign tumors had been removed from an ovary.