Spain’s most decorated synchronized swimmer and two-time Olympian Ona Carbonell will not compete at the 2018 European Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, from August 3 – 7.
The news, reported by a few Spanish media outlets, is not too surprising as Carbonell has already been absent most of the season, but her participation at Euros had not been confirmed or denied until now.
Carbonell had already announced she would be taking it easy this season and would significantly reduce her training to finish her studies and to focus on other personal projects. She is also set to appear on the celebrity version of “MasterChef”.
She only competed in the free combination routine at the 2018 French Open back in March. The Spanish national team went on to swim at the Japan Open, the Budapest Open and the Spanish Open without her, and even debuted a new duet with Paula Ramirez and Sara Saldana.
Her absence will not affect the team so much as it has already competed without her plenty of times. Her absence on the European stage will mostly be felt in the solo event, where it leaves the door wide open for other countries to medal there.
The official Spanish roster for the European Championships will be announced on Tuesday by the federation.