Olympic rowing gold medallist Duncan Free has suffered a broken leg on his birthday after being hit by a car when he was out cycling yesterday on the Gold Coast.

Free was riding with three other rowers when a car pulled in front of their line and knocked him from his bike.

It was Free's 38th birthday - how unlucky. He was taken to Gold Coast Hospital and had surgery which involved placing a nail through his broken femur with pins to hold it together.

Free will now miss representing Australia in the world championships which begin towards the end of August, but the plucky rower said he is determined to recover in time to bid for a place on the Olympics team next year.