British triathlete Sian Rainsley will likely miss the early WTCS and World Cup races of 2023 after she revealed that she recently suffered an ankle injury.
After rolling her ankle, Rainsley experienced an AFTL grade 3 and a CFL grade 1 in her left ankle.
An ATFL grade 3 describes a complete tear of the joint. In most cases, there will be reduced strength although conversely there may be increased range of movement as the ligament is no longer carrying out its role as a joint stabiliser.
The general prognosis for such an injury is a three month absence from exercise although it can be quicker. With the first WTCS race of the season in Abu Dhabi less than seven weeks away, it is unlikely that Rainsley will make the start line.
At minimum, she should be able to swim in the time frame. The larger issue may be the loss of running time which could hamper her well into the season. Sometimes, though, injuries that restrict one sport can often yield improvements in other sports. With running off the table in the short term, Rainsley may just be able to put in together a block of swimming training that consolidates her in the front pack going forwards.
For reference, Rainsley finished 19th in the 2022 WTCS. After finishing 15th at WTCS Leeds and 8th at WTCS Hamburg in 2022, she has been steadily growing at the elite level and could be a dark horse to make the British Olympic team in 2024.
