BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — World champion Christian Sprenger has withdrawn from Australia’s squad for the Pan Pacific championships due to a shoulder injury.

Swimming Australia head coach Jacco Verhaeren on Tuesday said Sprenger, an Olympic silver medalist and world champion in the 100-meter breaststroke, withdrew from the Aug. 21-24 Gold Coast meet so he could concentrate on recovering and preparing for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Verhaeren says “it is disappointing to not have him … for Pan Pacs, but he has been dealing with this shoulder injury for a little while now and I think this break will do him good.”

The Pan Pacs will be the first international competition for U.S. great Michael Phelps since he returned from retirement.

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