World No.5 Jack Robinson has withdrawn from the Australian team currently competing in the ISA World Surfing Games in El Salvador as he continues his recovery from a knee injury.
Robinson returned to action last weekend at the World Surf League's Surf Ranch Pro after missing out on defending his Margaret River Pro title.
Although he didn't appear troubled by the injury, the 25-year-old West Australian was eliminated in the first round at the California wave pool.
"First event back from my injury. Being here was already a win for me!," Robinson posted on Instagram after his exit.
"Wish I had another go but grateful to be healthy and looking forward to pushing harder in the next events.. learning every day!"
With Olympic quota spots up for grabs, surfers in the 51-nation event can compete in up to 11 heats if they go through repechage all the way to the final, making it a marathon competition over a week.
The next event on the WSL Championship Tour is at La Punta, the same location as the Surf Games, with the competition window opening two days later.
Robinson's place in the six-person team was taken by Newcastle's world No.8 Ryan Callinan.
The other members of the Irukandjis are three-time event winner Sally Fitzgibbons, world No.4 Ethan Ewing, No.18 Liam O'Brien as well as Sophie McCulloch and Ellie Harrison, who are currently surfing on the Challenger Series.
Callinan has been part of Australia's charge at ISA Games before in 2019 and 2021 and was the men's reserve for the Olympic team that competed in Tokyo.
"I’m very excited to join Team Australia in El Salvador," the 31-year-old told Surfing Australia.
"It’s always such a great environment with the team, very unique for surfing as it’s normally so individual.
"I went last time to this same ISA location and loved the waves."
With 58 heats to be completed in the men's opening round, Callinan is the only Australian to have so far competed, winning his heat which included a surfer from the Dominican Republic and the Ukraine.
Australia's surf team for next year's Paris Olympics is still to be finalised but those selected must compete in at least one ISA event to qualify.
