Katie Archibald's Olympic dream over due to disastrous garden fall

Two-time Olympic champion Katie Archibald is out of the Paris Olympics after the British track cyclist broke bones in her leg in an innocent-sounding garden fall.

The GB track star confirmed on her Instagram that the incident will prevent her from racing at her third games. She wrote: "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."

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British Cycling also released a statement on the sad news. "Earlier this week, Katie Archibald had an accident at home which has resulted in a broken ankle which she has since had surgery on," the federation stated. "Following medical advice, this unfortunately means that Katie will be unable to compete at the upcoming Olympic Games."

"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."

In post-surgery update, Archibald wrote on her Instagram: "I had surgery yesterday to pin the bones back together and reattach the ligaments. Then hopefully this afternoon I'll be going home (wearing a more high tech boot than the one in my hot dogs pic). A hundred thank yous for the fabulous doctors, nurses, radiographers, porters, physios, surgeons and more at the Manchester Royal Infirmary. A hundred apologies for what this means for the Olympic team, which I've been told won't involve me."

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