Katie Archibald out of Paris 2024 selection due to freak injury

Sad news for track cycling fans as British two-time Olympic champion and five-time world-title holder Katie Archibald announced her withdrawal from Paris 2024 team contention due to an ankle injury sustained on Tuesday (18 June).

A post on the Instagram page of the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 alumni two days later shows a bemused-looking Archibald alongside the caption:

"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. What the heck."

With little more than a month until the Olympic Games Paris 2024 begins on 26 July, the timing could not have been worse and, ever the professional, Archibald's thoughts turned to her teammates.

"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 and all that)."

The seemingly light-hearted announcement belies much. The 30-year-old knows much worse can, and does, happen.

Archibald lost her partner, and fellow cyclist, Rab Wardell in August 2022, after he suffered a cardiac arrest while in bed beside her. Neither she nor the emergency services could save him.

So even getting back to world and Olympic form has been beyond challenging for the 30-year-old but one thing she has rapidly learned is how best to look after herself.

"Might be back with more updates, might be gone from the socials for a bit - TBC. Ciao for now."

Paris 2024 British track cycling team adapting to Archibald's absence

Archibald was part of the squad that are the reigning team pursuit world champions, securing the title alongside Elinor Barker, Josie Knight, and Anna Morris at a home championships in Scotland in 2023. An emotive occasion for the Scot, Archibald competed in remembrance of her partner who loved the world of cycling so much.

“Rab was so involved in these championships and this dream of a home worlds,” Archibald told the Guardian. “He had such a love for sport on two wheels and for Glasgow, that's what this whole event is about.”

Archibald is also the reigning Olympic champion in madison, and a silver medallist in team pursuit from the Japan Games, so her loss from the squad is not insignificant.

With the British Cycling Olympic team for Paris 2024 yet to be announced, there will be some juggling going on, but Megan Barker, who helped the team make the world final in Glasgow in the early rounds, will likely fill the spot alongside her older sister in that event.

For now though, Archibald can only be grateful for the support offered, including from a range of Olympic icons inside and outside her sport.

Commiserating messages have come in from the likes five-time Olympic champion Laura Kenny, rower Helen Glover, triathlete Beth Potter, and Chris Hoy.

Six-time Olympic champion Hoy speaks for all cycling fans:

"Oh Katie… I’m so sorry. What an absolute kick in the teeth. Get well soon and rest up. ❤️"