Molly Caudery's season has been cruelly cut short, with the British pole vault record holder confirming she'll miss out on this summer's Commonwealth Games and European Championships after undergoing emergency spinal surgery. The reigning world indoor champion required a microdiscectomy last week to alleviate pressure on her nerve roots following a rapid deterioration of a back issue – a desperate measure that now means she'll be watching from the sidelines as her rivals take centre stage.
The 26-year-old's latest setback is a bitter blow, coming just days after she shattered her own season's best vault with an impressive 4.80m at the Diamond League meeting in Rome. And it's not like this is some unexpected twist of fate – Caudery had already secured a Commonwealth silver medal and European bronze in recent years, only to be thwarted by injury on both occasions.
Posting on Instagram, Caudery expressed her heartbreak, writing: "And just like that, my season is over. Absolutely heartbroken to even be writing this, missing out on yet another major champs and home games." With characteristic humour, she added that "Emergency spinal surgery wasn't on my 2026 bingo card" – a wry observation that only adds to the sense of tragedy.
The injury itself has been a long time coming, with Caudery pointing to a back 'flare-up' last week that quickly worsened and necessitated immediate surgical intervention. While the surgery was successful, she now faces a lengthy period of rehabilitation – a tough pill to swallow for an athlete who's built her reputation on her resilience and determination.
But Caudery remains optimistic about her long-term prospects, hinting that this setback will only fuel her comeback bid. "Another chapter in the autobiography before the comeback," she declared, a statement that speaks volumes about her unwavering commitment to returning to the top of the pole vault world.