Rice to return to racing at NSW titles

Triple Olympic gold medallist Stephanie Rice has been cleared to return to racing for the first time since undergoing shoulder surgery in December at this week’s NSW state swimming titles.

Rice had arthroscopic surgery in December to repair a torn tendon in her right shoulder, in a significant hiccup to her build-up towards Olympic trials in Adelaide from March 15.

But her coach Michael Bohl said on Wednesday Rice would fly to Sydney to compete in her pet event, the 400m individual medley, on Friday after experiencing only minor pain during training in Brisbane this week.

Rice is also entered for the 200IM, 200m freestyle and 100m butterfly at the three-day meet at Sydney Olympic Park but Bohl said she was no certainty to take part in those events.

“She’s not going to swim just for the sake of swimming,” Bohl told AAP.

“If her shoulder’s a little bit tight after the 400m medley, we’ll just make a decision day-by-day. We’ll just see how it goes.”

Bohl said getting race practice at the NSW titles was too good an opportunity to pass up but stressed training was the priority for Rice in her recovery.

“She’s got to get a really good last five weeks (of preparation) in so we’re not going to go and swim in five or six races and come back and be no good for two weeks,” Bohl said.

“We’re not going to take that gamble.”

Another of Bohl’s swimmers, controversial butterfly ace Nick D’Arcy, will also make his competitive comeback from back and rib injuries at the meet.

D’Arcy’s Olympic prospects remain in the balance with the Australian Olympic Committee team executive yet to determine his eligibility after he reportedly filed for bankruptcy following being ordered to pay fellow swimmer Simon Cowley $180,000 over a 2008 assault.

Others using the meet to tune up their preparations for trials include world champion James Magnussen, Eamon Sullivan, Geoff Huegill, Emily Seebohm, Libby Trickett and Leisel Jones.

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