Australia’s top gymnast Georgia Godwin ruled out of Paris Olympics with Achilles injury
Australia’s leading gymnast Georgia Godwin has announced she will miss the Olympic Games after suffering a devastating injury. Her teammates are rallying around the beloved leader.
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Georgia Godwin’s impeccable timing in the gym has led to two Commonwealth Games gold medals, an Olympic berth and having a move named after her in the sport’s Code of Points.
But in a cruel blow that could not have come at a worse time, Godwin will miss the Paris Games after rupturing her achilles tendon in a training accident.
In a move she’s performed literally thousands of times over her career, the 26-year-old tore her achilles on takeoff on a floor routine days out from the national championships on the Gold Coast.
The event is an important selection meet for Australia’s women’s artistic gymnasts, who have qualified for the team event in Paris.
But Godwin was a selection shoo-in.
Not only is she the best performed gymnast in the country over the past several years, Godwin has emerged as a team leader and her absence from the Games team will leave a massive hole.
It’s something her teammates, who are determined to support their mate as much as they can during her recovery, are feeling but believe the best way they can honour her is to perform as well as they can on the world stage.
Commonwealth Games gold medallist Kate McDonald, who with Godwin went viral in 2022 when endearing vision of the pair waiting for an interview was shown, said she was devastated for her friend.
“I just really felt for her because she plays such a huge role for the team both through her gymnastics and as a leader and a friend,” McDonald said.
“I think we’re all here for her and trying to support her as much as we possibly can by reaching out to her but I’m just really heartbroken for her.
“During the hard sessions in the gym she’s always there picking us up.
“I guess it definitely does open up spots on the team, which is very exciting. But it’s never a good position to be in.”
Emma Nedov, who is returning to competition this weekend to try and win her spot on the team, knows what Godwin is feeling having torn her achilles before fighting back to full fitness.
“It’s just terrible news,” Nedov said.
“It’s a part of elite sport and it’s just shocking. How do you even prepare for that?
“All that we can do really as be there for her. You know, we’ve all kind of been in similar shoes. “I sent her a message straight away and just said, if there’s anything you need, I’m here for you.”
Gymnastics Australia chief executive Chris O’Brien said Godwin had been an integral part of Australia qualifying a team spot in Paris, the first time in more than a decade that has happened.
“It’s very disheartening for her but I know that we’ve got other girls who will step up and play a role for us,” O’Brien said.
“But at the same time, we’re also respectful of Georgia dealing with an injury and really looking after her through her healing process.”
O’Brien said the injury to Godwin, as well as one to trampolinist Blake Rutherford, which required back surgery that will rule him out of the Games, were freak accidents.
“Timing’s a cruel thing as well. Certainly the nature of the injury … we’re in a very short time frame through to the Games and it will require time to heal and to get back on track,” he said.
“She’s a great competitor, Georgia, an amazing person and we know that she’ll work through it with her with her team and make sure she gets herself back on track.”
GODWIN REVEALS HEARTACHE
Australia’s leading gymnast Georgia Godwin has announced she will miss the Olympic Games in Paris following an Achilles injury.
The 26-year-old confirmed she suffered the injury just days out from the Australian Gymnastics Championships beginning on Thursday on the Gold Coast.
Godwin shared the devastating update on her Instagram account, coming into the frame on crutches before providing some detail on the next steps in her recovery.
“A couple days out from nationals, less than 80 days from Paris, I’ve sustained an Achilles injury,” Godwin said. “It’s extremely heartbreaking, it’s not ideal.
“I’ll be heading back to Brisbane, having a chat with the surgeon and we’ll just see where we go from there.
“I’m not entirely sure what the recovery process is moving forward, but I’ve got an amazing team around me and trying to be as positive as possible.”
Godwin was set to be right in contention to feature among the medals in Paris following an incredible two-year stretch on the gymnastics circuit.
She won five medals at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022, including gold in both the women’s all-around and the women’s vault. In 2023, she went on to win gold in both the vault and floor exercise at the Tel Aviv World Challenge Cup.
The Queenslander was also credited late last year with a gymnastics move officially named in her honour. ‘The Godwin’ was named in the Code of Points, the rule book that defines the scoring system in gymnastics, for a move on the uneven bars which features a full 360-degree turn before arriving into the handstand.
The Paris Olympics were already set to be a groundbreaking one for the Australian gymnastics team, qualifying a women’s team for the first time since London 2012. Godwin was a part of the team alongside Kate McDonald, Ruby Pass, Breanna Scott and Emily Whitehead who finished ninth at last year’s Artistic World Championships in Belgium to qualify.
Less than a month ago, Godwin was also on hand to help launch Australia’s uniform for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Paris Olympics. Unfortunately, she will now miss out on the chance of wearing it at what would have been her second Olympic Games.
The Australian gymnastics team is also set to be without top-ranked men’s trampoline gymnast Blake Rutherford for Paris who suffered a serious injury in training.
“Gymnastics Australia is devastated for Georgia and Blake, and our staff are providing both athletes with the organisation’s full support,” the organising body said in a statement.
“The entire gymnastics community in Australia wishes them both well in their recovery.”
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