Jim Morris

(CP) - The potential for further injury to his back has forced defending champion Alexandre Despatie to withdraw from the 10-metre diving event at this summer's world aquatic championship in Montreal.

It was a difficult decision for Despatie, 19, who wanted to perform before a home-town crowd plus help erase the frustration of finishing off the podium in the platform competition at last summer's Olympics in Athens.

"It's disappointing," Despatie said in a telephone interview Wednesday.

"It was a hard decision to make. For once I have to take a decision for myself and really focus on myself and my security which is the whole point of the decision and make sure nothing worse happens to me and I'm able to dive for the next three years."

Despatie still plans to compete in the three metres, the event he won a silver medal in at Athens.

"Three months to get ready is enough time," he said.

"I'll be ready and in good shape this summer."

Losing one of the world's best platform divers, and one of a handful of Canadian medal hopefuls, is another blow for organizers of the Montreal championship.

"Of course it's a big disappointment," said Richard Prieur, a spokesman for the Montreal organizing committee.

"We understand his decision. On the other hand, it is a world championship. You get the best of the athletes. We're still offering the best you can see in diving."

So far, about $1 million worth of tickets have been sold for the event. Organizers hope to raise $10 million in ticket sales.

Despatie, of Laval, Que., first hurt his back earlier this year, meaning he couldn't train for a month. That left him scrambling to prepare for the 10 metres at January's Canadian winter nationals in Quebec City.

On his fifth dive in the final, Despatie's feet hit the platform and he landed hard in the water in belly flop-style. He was not seriously injured, but again he couldn't train for another month.

"The 10 metre doesn't forgive," he said.

"After that, because of a month off, I sort of gained weight. Doing the 10 metre and rushing it for the summer with the extra weight is very dangerous. We decided to stop the 10 metres for the rest of this season and focus on the three metre."

Despatie went to Athens a favourite to win a medal in the 10 metres, but finished fourth. The world championship would have been his first chance to make amends for that performance, but Despatie's ultimate goal is the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

"I know that every year there is another meet and there will be other Olympic Games for me," he said.

"I will be there in 2008. Timing wise, if there was a time to take some time off from the 10 metres, now is the time. After that I have three years to get back into it and get ready for China. There will be other meets and there will be other world championships before the Games. It's not a problem."

Organizers of the Montreal world championship have been using Despatie as part of their marketing campaign.

A lack of money left the event tottering on disaster. Swimming's international governing body, FINA, stripped Montreal of the championship, then later returned the event to the city.

About 25,000 tickets have been sold since April 8. Organizers hope to sell around 230,000 tickets to the championships, which also features swimming, water polo, synchronized swimming and endurance swimming.

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