Aussie Olympic legend reveals ‘wild’ aftermath of secret injury

by Admin
September 12, 2024

Australian basketball legend Lauren Jackson has revealed a secret knee injury in the wake of the Opals’ bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The 43-year-old came out of retirement for a second time to compete at her fifth Olympic Games last month, playing a role for the Aussie team off the bench.

And it had appeared she got through unscathed, but the three-time WNBA MVP has posted a cryptic photo on her Instagram account that suggests she has gone under the knife for her right knee.

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“It’s been wild,” she captioned the photo from a white bed with scars all over her knee.

Jackson, unquestionably the greatest basketballer Australia has ever produced, has battled injury right throughout her decorated career.

Lauren Jackson appears to have undergone surgery for her right knee. Credit: Instagram

She first retired from the sport in 2016 due to injury, after a routine leg wax while recovering from an ACL injury went wrong.

The mother-of-two also had her season ended in 2023 by a series Achilles injury.

It was initially thought that the Achilles injury would be the final nail in her career’s coffin, but the resilient veteran rallied once again to return after two surgeries and eight months on the sidelines.

Less than a year after that, she won her fifth Olympic medal when the Opals beat Belgium 85-81 to clinch bronze.

While it wasn’t the gold medal that has eluded the Opals, it was their first medal since winning bronze in 2012 and the sixth in their history.

Jackson ended her Olympic career with her fifth medal, having won three silvers, as well as the bronze in 2012.

Very little separated both sides throughout the thrilling clash with just three points in it with 30 seconds remaining.

The Opals produced a brilliant defensive stand in the dying stages before captain Tess Madgen nailed two clutch free throws to all but seal the win.

Lauren Jackson said was ‘amazing’ to watch the Opals claim bronze in Paris. Credit: AAP

Ezi Magbegor was instrumental for the Opals with a stunning 30-point haul, while Sami Whitcomb and Alanna Smith were also prominent.

While Jackson remained on the bench, it was a changing of the guard with 24-year-old Magbegor rising tall, while Jade Melbourne, 21, and 19-year-old guard Isobel Borlase, who was born after Jackson already had two Olympic silver medals, showed they’re the future of the team.

“I’m so glad she had this platform for people to see just how incredible she is,” Jackson said of Magbegor at the time.

“She is the centrepiece of this team and people have seen it now, everyone knows what she can do.

“No-one can stop her. For Ez, it’s believing in herself, and tonight she proved to herself she can carry a team.

“That’s a way to lead; pick up a team, put them on your shoulders and say, ‘We’re winning this bronze medal’.”