No-one has a right to be privy to the medical woes of Jodie Henry, Olympic 100m free champion, but the results in the pool of late have been all too obvious to see and there was little surprise in the news today that the Aussie sprinter will not be defending her crown in Beijing this summer.

Her announcement, falling on a day that will provide no anniversary for another four years, made clear that she will not race at trials in Sydney. That is more significant to Australia's relay chances against Germany and the United States that it is in terms of the solo contribution she may have made on recent form.

A disappointed Henry told Aussie reporters: 'I would've loved to be in Beijing to defend - to try to defend, sorry - my title, and help the girls win another relay'. But it was not to be. Her pelvic muscles are not balanced, say experts, causing Henry pain when she swims. The cause is partly genetic, reports suggested.

Henry, the smiling face of the Athens Games as she lined up alongside fretful defender Inge de Bruijn (NED), will not be quiiting. She said: 'I am definitely not retiring, as there is no way that I want my swimming career to end like this ... I've got good swimming years ahead of me, I'm a sprinter.'

Head coach to the Dolphins, Alan Thompson said that Henry would be much missed but added in typical fashion of those who need to look at least three moves ahead, that her absence provided opportunity for bright new talent. 'We've got some experienced young ladies in the team now and we've got the youth coming through. Our hope would be that experience assists with the team, as it does with the men's team,' said Thompson.