Australia has suffered a double-injury blow ahead of this year’s Paris Olympics, with Georgia Godwin and Blake Rutherford injured.
The Australian Gymnastics Championships begin on Thursday on the Gold Coast, where Godwin and Rutherford were both considered major chances to secure spots on the Olympic team.
Godwin — a seven-time national All Around champion — has suffered an Achilles injury in training.
Rutherford, Australia’s top-ranked men’s trampoline gymnast in Olympic qualifying, also suffered a significant injury in training.
A tearful Godwin announced her injury on social media,
“This is definitely not the news I want to be sharing with you all,” the 26-year-old said.
“A couple of days out from nationals, 80 days out from Paris, I’ve sustained an Achilles injury.
“It’s extremely heartbreaking.”
She said she will be heading to Brisbane to speak to a surgeon and is not sure how long her recovery will take.
“I’ve got an amazing team around me … and trying to remain as positive as possible,” she said.
Godwin made history in 2023 when she had a move named after her in the official rule book.
She became the fifth Australian to have a gymnastics move named after her.
In a statement, Gymnastics Australia said it was “devastated” for both Godwin and Rutherford.
“Our staff are providing both athletes with the organisation’s full support,” it said.
“The entire gymnastics community in Australia wishes them both well in their recovery.”
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