Last year, Australian CrossFitter Ricky Garard achieved an impressive individual podium finish at the 2022 CrossFit Games. However, this year, his prospects have been abruptly curtailed by a recent shoulder injury. On April 6th, Garard announced in a YouTube video that he will be out of the rest of the 2023 CrossFit season due to his ailment.
Garard’s future uncertain after shoulder injury
Ricky Garard, the veteran CrossFitter from Australia, is facing a period of uncertainty after a recent shoulder injury. While the precise severity of his ailment remains unclear, he underwent surgery to repair a torn acromioclavicular joint (or AC joint) sustained in a mountain bike accident. The ensuing recovery period of four to six months means that Garard will miss the rest of the 2023 CrossFit season.
Mountain bike fall knocks Garard out of 2023 CrossFit season
A fall from a mountain bike has dealt a major blow to the 2023 CrossFit season hopes of Ricky Garard, an accomplished CrossFitter from Australia. Garard recently announced in a YouTube video that he will be out of action for the rest of the year due to a shoulder injury sustained in the accident. While the full extent of his ailment is not yet known, he underwent surgery to repair a torn AC joint and faces a long recovery period of four to six months.
Ricky Garard’s Injury a Setback After Successful Return to CrossFit Competition
Ricky Garard, the Australian CrossFit athlete, recently suffered a shoulder injury that has forced him to withdraw from the remainder of the 2023 CrossFit season. The injury has proven to be a significant setback for Garard, who had just made a successful return to competition after a four-year suspension related to performance-enhancing drugs.
Garard’s injury, which was caused by a fall from a mountain bike, will require four to six months of recovery time after surgery to repair a torn acromioclavicular joint. The athlete expressed disappointment over the setback, as he was hoping to build on his impressive performance at the 2022 CrossFit Games, where he secured a podium finish after a long absence from the sport.
In a recent YouTube video, Garard spoke candidly about his feelings regarding the injury and its impact on his future in the sport. Despite the setback, he expressed a determination to return to competition as soon as possible and build on his recent success.
“Pretty disappointing,” Garard said. “I’m still trying to take it all in and realize what’s actually happened … I came off my mountain bike, landed on my shoulder, and ruptured my AC joint. So, a fair bit of damage resulted in me getting surgery just two days ago now. It’s looking like I’m out for four to six months recovery … That means my season is gone for 2023. So, yeah, it is devastating. I can’t really believe that it’s happened to be honest.”
Garard’s Injury Forces Him Out of 2023 CrossFit Games
Australian CrossFitter Ricky Garard, who took home an Individual podium finish at the 2022 CrossFit Games, has been forced to withdraw from this year’s CrossFit Games after suffering a shoulder injury. In a recent YouTube video, Garard revealed that he had undergone surgery to repair a torn acromioclavicular joint (or AC joint), which he sustained from falling off a mountain bike. While the exact severity of the injury is unclear, the expected recovery time of four to six months means Garard will miss the rest of the 2023 CrossFit season.
Garard Doesn’t Rule Out Return to Later-Year Competitions
Although Garard’s injury will keep him out of the 2023 CrossFit Games, he has not ruled out a return to later-year competitions outside of the CrossFit season paradigm. For example, the 2023 Rogue Invitational, which does not yet have a concrete date, could be a possibility depending on how Garard’s recovery unfolds. The Rogue Invitational has taken place in October for the past two years, which could be when the CrossFit world sees Garard compete again.
“I will work for coming back at the end of the year, possibly Rogue [Invitational], Dubai [CrossFit Championship], Down Under [Championship], Miami [the 2024 Wodapalooza],” Garard clarified. “There are still plenty of competitions.”
Garard’s CrossFit Games Career
Australian CrossFitter Ricky Garard has had two CrossFit Games appearances in his career, with one of them resulting in a podium finish. However, he was disqualified from the 2017 competition after failing a drug test. Garard bounced back at the 2022 edition, where he earned his best-ever result, finishing in third place overall.
Garard’s Performance in the CrossFit Open
Garard showed promising signs in the 2023 CrossFit Open, finishing in seventh place worldwide and first in the Oceania region and Australia. These results suggested that the athlete had ambitious plans to build on his podium finish from the previous year’s CrossFit Games.
View this post on Instagram
Garard’s Future in CrossFit
Unfortunately, Garard’s recent shoulder injury has put a halt to his 2023 CrossFit season, dashing his hopes of building on his success at the 2022 CrossFit Games. However, the athlete has not ruled out the possibility of competing in later-year competitions outside of the CrossFit season paradigm, with the 2023 Rogue Invitational being a potential option. Garard may have to wait until 2024 to make a strong comeback in the CrossFit world.
Overview
Australian CrossFitter Ricky Garard has been forced to withdraw from the remainder of the 2023 CrossFit season due to a shoulder injury. Garard sustained the injury after falling from a mountain bike and subsequently tearing his acromioclavicular joint (or AC joint). The injury required surgery and Garard will need four to six months of recovery time.
Garard’s injury comes after he had recently made a successful return to competition following a four-year suspension related to performance-enhancing drugs. He had finished in third place overall at the 2022 CrossFit Games, showcasing his impressive physical abilities.
Despite the setback, Garard has not ruled out the possibility of competing in later-year competitions outside of the CrossFit season paradigm. While disappointed, he remains optimistic about his future in the sport and is determined to make a full recovery.
Courtesy Image @rickygarard (Instagram)
