In an amazing twist to a remarkable story, Commonwealth Games' gold medalist Kenrick Monk has informed police he has now changed his story about being knocked from his pushbike by a hit and run driver in Brisbane on Wednesday.
Monk originally said he had been deliberately, but randomly, targeted by a group of P-plate "hoons," in a vehicle which knocked him from his pushbike while he was on his way to training, which result in him breaking his elbow, and subsequently threatening his London Olympic campaign.
But Monk has now changed his police statement, staying there was no other vehicle involved, and it is believed he was not riding a pushbike, but instead was on a skateboard.
The swimmer, who represented Australia at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, will hold a press conference later today.
Monk suffered two broken bones in his right elbow, and lacerations to his torso and feet, after the incident. The elbow is likely to require surgery and he may be out of the water for up to six weeks, severely compromising his preparation for the Olympic selection trials at Adelaide in 21 weeks' time.
Monk had originally said he had just left his home in the brisbane suburb of Indooroopilly to head to training at the nearby St Peters Western Lutheran College, when he heard a scream from a passing car.
"It's a four-minute ride. I don't live far from training that's why I ride, but it all happened very quickly," he told the Sydney Morning Herald on Thursday."
"I was just leaving home and was about three blocks away from my house, when a young gentleman screamed out from a car at me.
"He just screamed out 'hoy', and I turned my head to see who it was and they basically T-boned me on the side, and flung me across the road onto the footpath, where my body slid for about five metres. And then they just drove off laughing and left me there.
"I have no idea who they were. Just some P-platers, a bunch of young guys hooning around. I've never seen them before or had any contact, it was just a very random act basically. I have only lived in this place for not even a month yet. It was very random. I usually ride my bike to training (every day) and this is the first time anything like this has happened."After it happened I just got up and walked my bike back to my house and got my phone and rang my mate to come and take me to the hospital."
Monk's St Peters' teammates Ned McKendry, Nick D’Arcy and Stephanie Rice took Monk to the Wesley Hospital where X-rays revealed the extent of his injuries. It is not known if any of that trio knew exactly what had occured to Monk.
"I'm feeling a bit battered and bruised. I have felt better," he said at the time.
"I've broken my elbow in two different places and I'm cut up pretty badly over my body, my elbow and feet and toes ... but the bike and the helmet are in good nick," he said.
Monk said at the time he had reported the matter to police, but they did not hold high hopes that the offenders would be caught because he didn't get the registraion plate on the car.
"Unfortunately I only got the colour and the make of the car. I didn't get the registration number. It wasn't the first thing on my mind. I was a bit dazed and a bit concussed," he said.
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