COLORADO SPRINGS - Five-time Olympic medalist Natalie Coughlin suffered an injury during training on Wednesday, Sept. 29, and has been forced to withdraw from the FINA World Championships, which will be held next week in Indianapolis. Yesterday, Coughlin received the diagnosis of a stress fracture of the third metatarsal in her left foot. She is expected to be wearing a support boot for approximately six weeks.

"I'm very disappointed to be injured at all, but especially disappointed to have it happen right before Short Course Worlds," said Coughlin. "I was looking forward to the meet. You can be sure I'll be watching it every night on ESPN2 and cheering on my teammates."

Coughlin left Athens with five medals, including two golds, making her only the third U.S. female swimmer to win that many medals in one Games. Past swimmers Shirley Babashoff and Dara Torres both won five in a single Games, but neither of those women could match Coughlin's individual gold (100 back). Coughlin also took gold leading off the 4x200 free relay which shattered the East Germans' world record that had stood for 17 years. Coughlin's lead-off time in that race would have won the individual 200 free in Athens. She didn't attempt to make the U.S. team in the 200 free since semifinals were scheduled for the same day as finals in her world record event, the 100 back. Coughlin also took bronze in the 100 free and silver in the 4x100 free relay and 4x100 medley relay. She broke the Olympic record in the 100 back, leading off the 4x100 medley relay, just barely off her world mark.

The FINA World Championships will be held in Conseco Fieldhouse, Oct. 7-11, in Indianapolis. The meet will feature 27 of the U.S. swimmers from the 2004 Olympic roster, including Michael Phelps, Jenny Thompson, Aaron Peirsol, Ian Crocker, Amanda Beard and Brendan Hansen. Tickets and more information can be found on www.worldswim2004.com.