In a devastating blow to British cycling, Olympic champion Katie Archibald has been ruled out of next month's Track World Championships after suffering a horrific leg injury in what she describes as a "freak accident."
The 29-year-old star shared the grim news on social media, revealing she dislocated her ankle and broke both the tibia and fibula in her left leg after tripping over a step in her garden.
Olympic Dreams in Jeopardy
The timing couldn't be worse for the double Olympic medallist, with the injury casting serious doubt over her participation in this summer's Paris Games. Archibald was expected to be a cornerstone of Great Britain's pursuit team in France.
"I tripped over a step in my garden and managed to, somehow, dislocate my ankle and break my tibia and fibula," Archibald explained in an emotional Instagram post.
Road to Recovery Begins
Archibald has already undergone surgery to repair the damage, with metalwork inserted to stabilise the fracture. She faces an extensive rehabilitation period that will see her miss critical preparation events.
"I'm now recovering after surgery and will be in a cast and non-weight bearing for the next 12 weeks," she confirmed, acknowledging the challenging journey ahead.
Team GB's Major Setback
The loss represents a significant blow to British Cycling's medal hopes. Archibald's pedigree is unquestionable - with two Olympic medals, multiple world titles, and a Commonwealth Games gold to her name.
Her absence from the Track World Championships in Glasgow creates a major gap in both the team pursuit and madison events, where her partnership with Neah Evans has been particularly successful.
Support Floods In
Fellow cyclists and sports figures have rallied around Archibald, with teammate Anna Morris and former cyclist Maddie Leech among those offering messages of support.
While the focus is now on recovery, the cycling community remains hopeful that one of Britain's most decorated riders can make a triumphant return to the track in time for Paris.
