Australian striker Sam Kerr will not participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics due to her recovery from an ACL injury.
At the age of 30, Kerr sustained the injury in January during a training session with Chelsea.
While announcing the Australian team for the pre-Olympic friendly matches, Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson confirmed that Kerr would not recover in time for the July Games.
Kerr is considered one of Australia’s greatest athletes and holds the record as the nation’s top goalscorer.
She joins a notable list of elite female footballers, such as England’s captain Leah Williamson and Dutch player Vivianne Miedema, who have also suffered from ACL injuries. Recovery from such injuries typically requires at least nine months post-surgery for professional athletes.
The Matildas’ preparation for the Olympics has been challenging with multiple key players out due to injuries.
Injuries have sidelined midfielder Katrina Gorry after ankle surgery, defender Clare Hunt with a foot fracture, and veteran Aivi Luik due to a hamstring injury. Additionally, young midfielder Amy Sayer recently suffered an ACL tear and will miss the Olympics.
Before the farewell games against China, Gustavsson spoke about the complexities of selecting the final 18-player squad for the Olympics, with many players still trying to make a timely recovery.
“This selection period will be challenging for my staff and me as we assess players’ current states and make our final decisions for the Paris squad,” he commented.
Kerr was anticipated to play a crucial role in Australia’s quest for a medal in Paris, especially after narrowly missing out on a podium finish at the last Olympics in Tokyo and the World Cup in Australia the previous year.
Since her move to Chelsea in 2020, Kerr has achieved significant success, winning five consecutive Women’s Super League titles, three Women’s FA Cups, two Women’s League Cups, and a Women’s Community Shield.
She has scored 99 goals for Chelsea and another 64 for Australia. Kerr has also been a consistent nominee for the Ballon d’Or Feminin, the highest accolade in women’s football, every year since its inception in 2018.
However, the past year has been tough for Kerr. She was mostly benched during the home World Cup due to a calf strain, and shortly after sustaining her ACL injury, she was charged in January with racially aggravated harassment of a London police officer, to which she has pleaded not guilty.
