British pole‑vault champion Molly Caudery faced a sudden career halt after emergency spinal surgery. The 26‑year‑old, holder of the British record, underwent a microdiscectomy last week following a flare‑up that threatened further damage. The operation removed part of a spinal disc, a procedure rarely seen in elite athletes during the peak of her season today.

Caudery capped a strong week by clearing 4.80m at Rome’s Diamond League, a season best that put her back on the podium trail. Yet the surgery cuts her out of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the European Championships in Birmingham, events where she aims to rebound for the national team.

Earlier this year, Caudery earned a Commonwealth silver in 2022 and a European bronze in 2024. She missed the 2024 Olympics after failing to clear her opening height and skipped last year's World Championships due to an ankle injury. The sudden back flare now forces a season‑long recovery and a cautious return plan for her next season.

Caudery’s Instagram post summed up her frustration: “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.” The microdiscectomy was successful, but the damage to her spine means she must rebuild strength before any competition return for her next season.