Injury forces pole vault star Kennedy out of worlds
Roger Vaughan and John Salvado |
A new leg injury has forced Australian Olympic gold medallist Nina Kennedy to pull out of the world athletics championships.
The pole vault star, also the defending world champion, announced on Friday that she will not compete at this month’s Tokyo worlds.
She was among six medallists from the Paris Games in the Australian team and the only reigning Olympic gold medallist.
Kennedy had hamstring surgery in April after three strains in quick succession.
“Not the news I want to be sharing. Sooooo I’ve strained a muscle in my leg in one of my last sessions before worlds (not near the surgery site, which is a win). I’m sad to say I will be withdrawing from the world championships,” Kennedy posted on Instagram.
“Even though I’m disappointed, I’m proud of myself for trying to get back and put myself in the best position to jump high at worlds.
“I can genuinely say I did everything I could, I gave it a red-hot crack and that in itself is a measure of success.
“Sport can be brutal, but injuries are just part of the journey, and that’s okay.”
The surgery had meant Kennedy was racing against the clock to be ready for the worlds.
There hadn’t been time for a single warm-up meet for Kennedy, whose last competitive outing was victory at the 2024 Diamond League in Brussels in mid-September.
“A win in our books is getting to the championships and saying we’ve done everything we can,” she said a few days ago.
“Last year it was all about ‘I will win the thing and that’s what we’re doing’.
“This time definitely I have to be more gentle with myself.”
Despite the blow of losing Kennedy, Australia will still have a formidable team in Tokyo.
The only other Australian Olympic medallist from Paris not competing at the worlds is walker Jemima Montag, sidelined because of hamstring surgery.
High jump gold medal favourite Nicola Olyslagers and schoolboy sprint sensation Gout Gout are among the big names in the strong team.
“The Australian team is stacked this year, and I know they are going to kill it in Tokyo. Everyone, tune in,” Kennedy said.
AAP
