van Almsick ruled out with illness
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Van Almsick will miss Dublin meeting
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BERLIN, Germany -- Five-time European champion Franziska van Almsick has been forced to withdraw from the European short-course championships in Dublin this weekend.
The 25-year-old German has been advised not to swim until Thursday because of a bout of sinusitis
"I am really disappointed that I can not be there due to this illness," said van Almsick. "I wanted to have some fun in Dublin this weekend."
Berlin-born van Almsick will now focus her energies on winning Olympic Gold in Athens having missed out in Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney.
"There is no concern about the Olympics," she insisted. "There is plenty of time until then."
