British two-time Olympic champion Katie Archibald will miss the Paris Games after a freak accident in her garden left her with severe injuries. The 30-year-old cyclist fractured her tibia and fibula, dislocated her ankle, and tore two ligaments in the mishap on Tuesday.
Archibald took to Instagram to update her followers, posting a photo of herself in a hospital bed and detailing the extent of her injuries. “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 wrote. “Had surgery yesterday to pin the bones back together and reattach the ligaments. Then hopefully this afternoon I’ll be going home.”
The accident is the latest in a series of setbacks for Katie Archibald over the past two years. She missed the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham following a collision with a vehicle. Later that year, her partner, mountain biker Rab Wardell, tragically passed away at the age of 37.
Archibald’s illustrious career includes gold medals in the team pursuit at the Rio 2016 Olympics and the Madison at Tokyo 2020 alongside Laura Kenny. She has also amassed five world championship titles and 20 European championship golds.
In her Instagram post, Archibald expressed her disappointment about missing the Paris Olympics. “A hundred apologies for what this means for the Olympic team, which I’ve been told won’t involve me,” she stated. “I’m still processing that bit of news, but thought I better confirm it publicly instead of leaving it to the grapevine.”
British Cycling issued a statement of support, recognising the impact of Archibald’s absence on the team. “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,” the statement 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 was expected to compete in the team pursuit, Madison, and Omnium events in Paris. Her absence is a significant blow to Great Britain’s track cycling team, which will now need to adjust its plans for the upcoming Games.
The cycling community has rallied around Archibald, offering messages of support and wishing her a speedy recovery. She remains hopeful and grateful for the care she has received, thanking the medical team at Manchester Royal Infirmary for their efforts.
The announcement comes after British Cycling shared the news on social media, confirming that Archibald would not be participating in the Paris Olympics following medical advice. The message highlighted the unfortunate timing and nature of the accident, underscoring the challenges athletes face even outside of competition.