Double Olympic champion Alicia Hoskin is focused on recovery after undergoing surgery to remove a rare cervical rib which was affecting her on and off the water.
The 26-year-old New Zealander spoke of the condition she developed in early childhood in a three-part YouTube series conducted by High Performance Sport New Zealand.
Despite being advised by professionals to avoid muscle growth in the affected area due to the risk of complications, Hoskin chose to pursue a demanding path in high-performance kayaking.
Her determination paid off when she became part of both the kayak double and kayak four 500m teams, helping secure two historic gold medals at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
The intense physical demands of elite sport eventually began to take their toll as the pursuit that brought her remarkable success also led to challenges.
By the World Championships in August 2025, Hoskin’s symptoms had worsened significantly, leaving her only able to paddle for about a minute before her arm went numb.
It quickly became clear that surgery was her only viable option if she wanted to regain full function.
The decision, however, came with considerable anxiety. Hoskin had to weigh the risks not just in terms of her sporting future, but her long-term health.
“I wanted to be able to hold my future kids, and I was never going to compromise that,” she said, underlining the broader perspective she brought to the decision.
Hoskin’s condition was caused by a cervical rib in her shoulder compressing both a nerve and an artery, leading to numbness and weakness in her arm.
These symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome first appeared over a year ago and began to disrupt her training in the build-up to the World Championships in Italy.
“By the time I got to the World Championships in August, I could just about paddle for a minute at a time,” said Hoskin.
“It became quite apparent quite quicky that unless something anatomical changed, I actually wouldn't be able to continue.”
Hoskin is no stranger to medical setbacks. She was diagnosed with a rare heart condition in 2017 and underwent knee surgery last September.
These experiences have shaped a more measured approach to recovery this time around.
Now back in New Zealand, she is embracing a quieter lifestyle as she heals.
Away from competition, Hoskin has been filling her time with creative and restorative activities, painting with watercolours, making kombucha, and tending to a vegetable garden.
“I’m not normally in New Zealand long enough to grow a cucumber,” she said.
While her competitive future remains uncertain, Hoskin is determined to stay closely connected to the sport.
With the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 on the horizon, and a wedding to look forward to, she is balancing her recovery with an eye on the next chapter of her life.
“Whether it’s in the boat, in a coach boat, or in the grandstand, I’m going to be there supporting the team,” she said. “It’s still my priority for the next three years.”
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