Pole vaulter Molly Caudery misses 2026 season after emergency spinal surgery
British pole vault record holder Molly Caudery has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2026 season after undergoing emergency spinal surgery.
The 26-year-old world indoor champion required a microdiscectomy to address a severe back issue that rapidly deteriorated last week.
She will consequently miss the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the European Championships in Birmingham.
Diamond League success followed by sudden injury
The devastating setback comes just days after the British athlete secured victory at the Diamond League meeting in Rome.
She cleared a season’s best height of 4.80m in the Italian capital before experiencing the sudden flare-up.
Taking to social media, the European bronze medallist expressed her profound disappointment at missing out on major international competitions.
“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.”
“Emergency spinal surgery wasn’t on my 2026 bingo card.”
A history of championship heartbreak
The surgical procedure was necessary to remove a portion of a spinal disc and prevent permanent nerve damage.
This latest medical intervention extends a frustrating run of bad luck at major events for the talented vaulter.
She famously failed to register a height during her opening event at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Prior to that, the former Commonwealth silver medallist also missed the World Championships in Tokyo due to an ankle injury sustained during her warm-up.
“I had a back flare-up last week that got worse quickly and immediate surgical intervention was needed to prevent any further damage.”
“The surgery was a success and my road to recovery starts today.”
Focus turns to long-term rehabilitation
Despite the devastating interruption to her campaign, the national record holder is determined to mount a successful return to the sport.
“Really thought 2026 was going to be my year after heartbreak in Paris and Tokyo and everything in between, but just wanted to add another chapter in the autobiography before the comeback.”
