Canadian swimmer Taylor Ruck back to racing after skateboarding accident

Four-time Olympic swimming medallist Taylor Ruck is prepared to make her return to racing after recovering from a broken hand suffered during a skateboarding accident in April.

CBC Sports has learned that Ruck will compete in the 100 and 200-metre freestyle events, as well as the 100 butterfly at an international swim meet in Santa Clara, Cali., this weekend. 

Swimming Canada high performance director John Atkinson says he talked to Ruck last week and says her recovery has gone well. He's also optimistic about Ruck  competing for Canada at the world championships next month in Japan. 

"She's been doing a lot of kick training. She's worked on this with her coach in Stanford and when I talked to her last week Taylor was in a very, very good place from a mental health perspective," Atkinson said. 

"She can go and race and get a real indicator of where she's at and I'll talk to her after the meet."

Ruck has played a pivotal role in Canada's relay success on the international stage at the past two Olympics and world championships.

Her last competition came in mid-March when she defended her 200-yard title at the NCAA championships. 

The 23-year-old from Kelowna, B.C., arrived in Toronto a week later with the intention of competing at the national trials at the Pan Am Sports Centre.

But just a couple of days ahead of trials it was revealed Ruck would not be competing.

"I need to put myself in the best position to perform to my goals at the Olympics next year," Ruck said in a statement released by Swimming Canada. 

"Right now that means I need to unplug for a little while, so I can come back refreshed and ready to be at my best in the pool."

In that same release Swimming Canada wrote that Ruck "found she was feeling exhausted