Netherlands' Van Dijk to compete at Paris Games weeks after breaking ankle

Three-times world time trial champion Ellen van Dijk will represent the Netherlands at the Paris Olympics, the country's cycling federation (KNWU) said on Wednesday, just six weeks after she broke her ankle in a crash.

Van Dijk, who won the time trial event at the world championships in 2013, 2021 and 2022, broke her ankle after colliding with a trailer at a training camp in Spain and underwent surgery in June.

"From the moment I fell, I knew what I had to do: get myself ready for the Games," Van Dijk said in a statement.

"An intense period, in which I looked at things from day to day and got one step closer to my goal each time. I am enormously looking forward to joining the team and to show something beautiful together in Paris."

The 37-year-old finished fourth in the time trial event at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

The cycling competition at the Olympics will take place from July 27-Aug. 11.