Melbourne, Aug 21(ANI): Australian swimmer Petria Thomas believes that Stephanie Rice's enforced break due to a shoulder injury would allow her to get fully fit and focus on next year's world championships and the 2012 London Olympics.
Triple Olympic gold medallist Rice, who has inflamed all three joints in her right shoulder, has pulled out of the Pan Pacific swimming championships in the US and the Delhi Commonwealth Games to undergo surgery.
The surgery, which is scheduled within a fortnight, would keep her out for up to seven months.
Thomas, who had three complete shoulder reconstructions during her career, insists that the surgery would not affect Rice's chances at the London Olympics, where she will defend her 200m and 400m medley titles.
"Sometimes the way people handle adversity and setbacks is what defines them as champions," The Daily Telegraph quoted Thomas, as saying.
"It's not ideal ... but it does give you a chance to refocus and have a break from training and get yourself right again both mentally and physically."
"It can have a silver lining in that sense and certainly it did for me. Sometimes we have to take a step backwards to go forwards," she added.
Thomas had retired in 2004 as one of Australia's greats with three gold and one silver medal at the Athens Olympics in 2004.
Earlier, announcing her decision to skip the Delhi Commonwealth Games, Rice had said that she was disappointed as the Games hold a special place in her heart.
"Obviously it is a huge disappointment for me," Rice said.
"I would have loved to have been there because it [the Commonwealth Games] comes around once every four years. [But] I have to think of the bigger picture, which is London 2012," she added. (ANI)
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