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Press release
Sweat going through the pain barrier for Rio 2016 place
Sweat is working hard to win a place at Rio 2016
Lausanne, Switzerland, May 5, 2016 – Brooke Sweat is having to grit her teeth and ignore the pain as she and Lauren Fendrick chase a place at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games.
Sweat tore a rotator cuff while diving for a ball in practice last July. After trying to play through the pain she refused surgery that would have ruled her out for six to nine months and instead had the joint cleaned out arthroscopically.
Ten weeks later she was back on tour and continuing to rehab the joint. While there are slight niggles, the 30-year-old Sweat is confident that she and Fendrick are on the right track for Rio 2016, especially as they are ranked 13th on the FIVB Olympic Rankings.
“I feel good about it,†Sweat told Naples Daily News. “We have a goal to where we want to be. The first goal, obviously, is to qualify and we want to be the best team in the Olympics.
“It was frustrating at first, but you've got to keep going. I just didn't hit with my right hand. You have to play way more dynamic when you're playing with your off-hand.
“I think we're both pretty healthy now and getting back in the groove. Things are getting better every day. If we can stay healthy, I think we'll end up being even better.â€
The top 17 teams qualify from the FIVB Olympic Rankings, with a maximum of two teams per National Olympic Committee.
Kerri Walsh and April Ross are the highest placed US team and both teams have already played the maximum of 12 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour competitions in the Olympic qualifying period that runs from January 2015 to June 12, 2016.
Sweat and Fendrick have played five World Tour tournaments this year and have already had a taste of Rio, where they reached the second knockout round, a result they matched at the Fuzhou Open last week.
“It would be a really great honour to be in the Olympics,†Sweat said. "That's what we're shooting for and working for. Obviously it's not something I dreamed of as a kid. When I first started playing volleyball this wasn't something I thought that I would be in the position I am right now for.â€
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