Australian women’s basketball team’s shooting guard, Rebecca Allen withdrew from the Paris Olympics 2024 one day before its commencement. Allen suffered a hamstring injury in the final warm-up game against Canada in Segovia, Spain, which ultimately led her to pulling out from what could have been her second Olympics. Allen, 31, underwent scans in the Paris Olympics Village Polyclinic to understand the extent of her injury.
The reports confirmed that she suffered a high-grade hamstring injury, which deemed her medically unfit to play in the sporting event. Allen will be replaced by 26-year-old Amy Atwell, who will make her Olympic debut. After her injury, Allen said, “I have been looking forward to these Games for a long time and am absolutely devastated but I will now focus my energies on recovery and supporting my Opals sisters.”
Australian women’s basketball team head coach Sandy Brondello said that the news of Allen’s injury left the squad ‘devastated’. She said, “Bec is such a big part of our team and has been for a long time… This injury has come at a really unfortunate time and the call had to be made upon medical advice.” Talking about Atwell’s debut, Brondello said, “Amy Atwell has been part of this Olympic squad all year and with us in Spain for our practice matches. She will now come into the team and all the staff and players have every confidence in Amy.”
Notably, the Opals are placed in Group B and paired along with France, Canada and Nigeria. In their first match, the side will be up against Nigeria on July 29. The Australian women’s basketball team has won five Olympic medals including three silver and two bronze till date.