BATON ROUGE — A back injury has forced LSU senior All-America diver Michelle Coryell to end her career prematurely, LSU diving coach Doug Shaffer announced on Monday.
Coryell has been suffering from a combination of a bulging disc and ligamentus instability in her back for the past two years, causing a great deal of asymmetry in strength. She has undergone MRI’s in the past year and has spent countless hours rehabilitating.
Coryell was a 2001 All-American and a member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2000 and 2001.
“Michelle has been working hard for the past 11 months to try to get back but her injury was just too serious, ” said Shaffer. “Obviously it is devastating not to have such a valuable team member but I have to congratulate her for her attitude, patience and perseverance to make every attempt to return to her previous athletic form.”
The swimming and diving teams return to action on Dec. 16 when they face the University of Tampa and the University of Indianapolis in Tampa, Fla.