Last week Lauren Jackson AO announced her retirement from women's basketball.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
From her emergence as a teenage superstar, her graduation from the AIS and her domination of the Australian domestic women's basketball competition, she went on to be a leading light at the highest international level for the last 15 years.
Her record of achievement includes four Olympic Games where she steered the Australian Opals to win silver medals on three occasions. She starred in Australian domestic teams winning premierships on five occasions. She was recruited and played with international teams in Europe (Russia and Spain), in Asia (China and Korea) and Northern America for most of her career. Her exploits, awards and accolades during this period are so numerous there needs to be a book to do them justice.
Now at age 34 Lauren has injuries that have hindered her preparation and on medical advice has declared herself unavailable for selection for a fifth Olympic Games.
In her press conference where she announced her retirement Lauren added that she did not aspire to coaching but might consider a career in a management role in women's basketball. Other options for her future include women's advocacy or international diplomacy. Her university study during her playing career qualifies her to take on these challenges and with the determination and drive she has shown on court over the years, she is certain to be successful.
Whatever Lauren decides to do in her retirement the Australian sporting community and indeed the international basketball family wish her well and will remember her awesome presence and achievements on the court.
