GRAINNE MURPHY HAS been forced to withdraw from her 800 metre freestyle heat due to illness, Swim Ireland have confirmed.
The Wexford native, who is based in Limerick, is considered Ireland’s brightest prospect in the pool, but has endured awful luck in the run up to these Olympic Games.
Murphy, 19, pulled out of yesterday’s 200m freestyle to give herself every chance of overcoming glandular fever in time for the 800m freestyle – her strongest event after the 1500m, which is not an Olympic event.
In April, Murphy suffered a sinus infection which heavily disrupted her preparation. The latest illness impacted on her Olympic debut in the 400m freestyle, where she finished last in her heat in a time of 4:19.07.