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Lilly King and Simone Manuel are already up for their Olympic preparation for a swimming berth. Both these veterans have had their Olympic swimming orbic medals in many events and throughout the years. Still, the duo has appeared for yet another contention, keeping aside the arguments of raging age or dissipating forms. However, one of their relay mates from the 2016 Rio Olympics was vying for an Olympic return as well. Although recent proceedings didn’t fall on her side. 

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In a recent update, the 26-year-old swimmer let her injury news slip among her fans. On the brink of the US swimming trial for Paris, the news seemed to be gloomy. 

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Kathleen Baker’s Olympics return is at stake 

This time the much-celebrated Lucas Oil Stadium will host the swimming trial for an Olympic berth on June 15-23. That almost sent a tremor among the swimmers, who were already opting to see themselves in Paris. Moreover, the Doha World Aquatics Championship is already one week away. So the swimmers who wanted to test their competitive prowess are already on their hasty schedule. But in this hay-time, the 2016 Olympics champion Kathleen Baker broke her injury news on social media. On her Instagram, Baker wrote, “Welp our California trip took an unexpected turn. Unfortunately I re-herniated a disc and compressed a nerve. Instead of being here for 4 days, I’m now here for to 2 weeks (or until I can physically make it home 😅) at least I’ve gotten to be around my best friends and caretakers ever”

However, the tryst with injury is nothing new for the 2017 world champion. In 2021, she already had her foot injury before the trial. But the brave heart swimmer had decided to participate in the swimming trial despite the injury scare. Moreover, Baker’s swimming love also fell in the same genre where she had continued to ignore her lifelong disease. 

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The braveheart continues to rule the pools 

In her early childhood, doctors diagnosed Kathleen Baker with Crohn’s disease. The chronic stomach pain because of that had made her piled. However, the swimmer didn’t bow before the disease and continued with her love affair in the swimming pool. The regular intake of medication or improbable fatigue became Kathleen’s part and parcel of life when she won multiple medals in the Rio Olympics. 

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Even she remained on top of her performance habit till the recent time. So when the 26-year-old received her Hall of Fame title last year from her native place, North Carolina, her fans were elated. Now the injury news fell disproportionately. 

Watch this story: Olympic Legend Michael Phelps Joins Popular Content Creator for a Round of Matt Damon’s Favorite Game

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Written by

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Prasun Chakrabarty

2,302 Articles

Prasun Chakrabarty is a Senior Writer in the Olympic Sports division at EssentiallySports, where he covers track and field, gymnastics, swimming, and other Olympic disciplines. A seasoned journalist with three years at the company, Prasun's extensive knowledge and passion for track and field were evident from day one. With years of connections and research already established, he brought a unique edge to the ES Insights and Trends Desk. He has since become a key voice in the company's Olympic sports coverage. His star coverage includes World Athletics Indoor Championships, USATF Outdoor Championships, and reporting live from the U.S. Marathon Trials. His expertise earned him a special invitation from the Paris City Council to cover lead-up events ahead of the 2024 Olympics. Over time, his stories have sparked real-world impact. His piece on athlete mental toughness drew praise from Texas Volleyball head coach Jerritt Elliott, while a feature on winter sports caught the attention of Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn, who engaged with it publicly. His reporting has made its way into Wikipedia, where editors have cited his work as a trusted source on Olympic sports. Being an alum of the Journalistic Excellence Program (JEP) and an active member of the ES Think Tank, he’s part of the team driving the site’s long-term coverage strategy.

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Bhujaya Ray Chowdhury

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