GREATER Western Sydney recruit and Australian rugby sevens star Chloe Dalton has been ruled out of the Tokyo Olympics due to a badly fractured cheekbone.
The 27-year-old suffered the injury during an Oceania tournament in Townsville, needing surgery on the multiple fractures.
She has previously represented Australia at the Rio Games in 2016, and made the decision to cross from Carlton to GWS last month to better assist with playing both sports.
"After spending the week isolated in a hospital room in Townsville, I'll head in for surgery this afternoon to have plates put in to my face," Dalton said on her Instagram account.
"Unfortunately, there won't be enough time to recover safely in time for Tokyo.
"Writing these words down is absolutely devastating and makes it all feel so much more real.
DRAFT HUB All the latest news and videos
"This part 18 months have been some of the most challenging in my life, and I've overcome so many mental physical battles to get to this point. Sport can be so beautiful and cruel at the same time.
"Come the end of this month, I'll be cheering my lungs out for my incredible teammates going over to Tokyo to represent our beautiful country.
"I couldn't be more proud of the work that this group has put in every single day throughout some incredibly uncertain times. These girls are the elite of the elite and it has been such a huge honour to be back playing alongside them."
