SYDNEY, April 1: Sprinter Jodie Henry on Tuesday quit the Australian team for this weekend’s swimming meet in the United States blaming a fear of flying there during the Iraq war.

The national team was informed of Henry’s withdrawal as it prepared to fly out for Indianapolis.

The 19-year-old Commonwealth 100m freestyle champion left the team camp here after lengthy discussions with officials who outlined stringent security precautions late Monday.

“She (Henry) has shown a genuine fear of flying to the USA in the current climate,” a team spokesman said on Tuesday. “There were long, convoluted discussions and meetings last night with her parents in the team camp ... Still this morning we were hopeful she would come to the airport but it didn’t happen.”—AFP