Injured Hall withdraws from World Cup

Top American swimmer Gary Hall jnr has withdrawn from this weekend's Fina Swimming World Cup at King's Park Aquatic Centre in Durban.

Double Olympic medallist Hall is the second top international contender to withdraw from the meet with an injury.

Last week Australian swimmer Michael Klim pulled out of the World Cup series meeting, claiming he hadn't fully recovered from his injury problems. However, he did compete in the second leg of the world series in Melbourne, Australia, last weekend.

South African medal contender Roland Schoeman said he was disappointed to hear that Hall had withdrawn but anticipated thrilling finishes in the 50m and 100m freestyle events.

Schoeman, who studies in Arizona, , said his main priority was the 2004 Olympic Games.

South Africa's inability to attract the world's best swimmers could be attributed to bad timing.

Top international competitors, many of whom hold world records, chose to compete in Australia and will thereafter travel to Sweden, the fourth leg of the world series and start of the European tour.