English Woman's Journal - Olympic cycling champion Archibald out of Paris 2024 after freak accident

The 30-year-old Scottish cyclist fractured a tibia and fibula and dislocated an ankle having tripped over a garden step.

She also sustained substantial ligament damage during the incident on Tuesday and has since undergone surgery.

"I tripped over a step in the garden and managed to, somehow, dislocate my ankle; break my tibia and fibula; and rip two ligaments off the bone," she posted on Instagram on Thursday alongside a picture of her in a hospital bed.

"What the heck. Had surgery yesterday (Wednesday) to pin the bones back together and reattach the ligaments. Then hopefully this afternoon I'll be going home.

"A hundred apologies for what this means for the Olympic team, which I've been told won't involve me.

"I'm still processing that bit of news, but thought I better confirm it publicly instead of leaving it to the grapevine (trip hazard)," added Archibald, who thanked staff at the Manchester Royal Infirmary for her treatment.

Archibald was aiming to compete in the team pursuit, Madison and omnium at next month's Games, with Britain's cycling squad set to be announced on Monday.

In a statement, British Cycling lamented Archibald's absence from Paris 2024.

"We share in Katie's heartbreak over her injury, and the cruel manner in which she has been denied the chance to ride for the medals she so coveted in Paris," it read.

"Our focus is now on providing Katie with the best possible support as she begins her recovery, and we know that the whole cycling community will be right behind her for every step."

Archibald, who won team pursuit gold at Rio 2016 and then topped the podium in the Madison alongside the now-retired Laura Kenny at Tokyo 2020, has endured a woeful couple of years.

She missed the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham after colliding with a vehicle -- one of several injury setbacks -- while her partner, mountain biker Rab Wardell, died suddenly that same year aged 37.

F.Stewart--EWJ