- Cyclist Luke Plapp needed surgery after incident in Paris race
- The 23-year-old Australian was competing in the Olympic time trial on Sunday.
- The rising star later shared a glimpse of the injury on Instagram
Australian cyclist Luke Plapp has revealed his most horrific injury of the Games after being involved in a horror incident during the Paris time trials that left him needing abdominal surgery.
Plapp, who was competing in his first Olympics, fell off his bike after the 13.1km checkpoint on Sunday and was rushed to hospital.
The 23-year-old showed his Instagram followers the damage before he had his wound treated – and it’s not for the faint of heart.
‘Paris 2024… I’ve been dreaming about this day for the past 3 years, not how I imagined it, but I will definitely remember you.’ The public.
‘Still in the hospital at the moment, but I’m lucky to have my best friends by my side and everyone’s support… See you in 1,445 days in Los Angeles (next Olympics in 2028).
Among the images Plapp shared on social media are of him sucking on a green whistle (which is offered to patients in an attempt to reduce significant pain) and a doner kebab.
Australian swimming legend Libby Trickett was among her well-wishers on social media, and teammate Grace Brown, who won gold in the women’s time trial, later visited Plapp in person and lifted her spirits.
Before his crash, Plapp was just two seconds behind then-leader Wout van Aert, with the Australian having previously set the fourth-fastest time of the event.
Australian Olympic cyclist Luke Plapp has revealed the most gruesome injury of the Games (pictured) after being involved in a horrific incident during the time trials in Paris which left him needing abdominal surgery.
Plapp, who was competing in his first Olympics, fell off his bike after the 13.1km checkpoint on Sunday and was rushed to hospital (pictured with girlfriend Georgia Baker).
The 23-year-old was racing in difficult conditions in the heavy rain in Paris before his fall (pictured after his fall)
Plapp also posted a picture of himself enjoying a kebab after his medal dreams in the time trial were crushed.
The testing conditions made the race dangerous for all athletes, especially in the highly technical middle section where Plapp dismounted at high speed.
Footage of the incident posted online showed the rider struggling to his feet, before an Australian team support member ran to help him off the road.
The Olympics decided not to post the confrontational video on its official website, and other cycling fans online agreed it was inappropriate to share.
“Not nice to look at,” wrote one user on X.
Plapp is a three-time national road race champion and two-time national time trial winner.
He was scheduled to compete in the road race alongside fellow Australian riders Michael Matthews and Simon Clarke on 3 August but has since been replaced by Ben O’Connor.
