|
 The 34-year-old power forward, who won two Women's National
Basketball Association (WNBA) championships with the Seattle Storm,
suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in December with her knee
joint later becoming infected.
Doctors told her last week she would not make the Aug. 5-21 Games in
Brazil and had advised her to undergo reconstruction surgery,
meaning a 14th operation on her knees and no chance of adding to her
three Olympic silvers and one bronze.
"I think it was a bit of a shock to hear that... but the writing was
on the wall," Jackson told reporters in Canberra on Thursday,
flanked by her international team mates and coach.
 "I knew it wasn't going to get better but I wanted it to so badly.
"I'm not going out the way I wanted to go and I didn't want my
career to be cut this short. But I'm grateful that I got to achieve
what I did in this sport and all over the world, especially with the
Opals (Australia national team)."
Jackson, who helped the Opals win the 2006 world championships,
carried the Australian flag during the opening ceremony at the 2012
London Games, reflecting her position as a leading light for the
sport.
The 196 cm (6ft-5in) New South Wales native was first called up to
the Australian team when she was 16 and went on to become one of the
greats of the game.
[to top of second column] |
She won three Most Valuable Player Awards in her 12 seasons in
America and remains the only foreigner to claim the prize.
She also played for clubs in Russia, China, Spain, South Korea and
at home in a standout career.
"For sure she'd be missed," Opals skipper Penny Taylor said earlier
this week.
"She is iconic for Australian sport, let alone basketball. But for
basketball, not many, if any, have done what she has done."
(Writing by Patrick Johnston in Singapore; Editing by John O'Brien)
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
