Australian marathoners Jess Stenson, Genevieve Gregson and Sinead Diver have all been forced to endure a stressful few weeks before learning their spots on the 2024 Olympic team were finally secure.
The marathon squad of three women – all of them mothers – and two men for the Paris Games was finally officially announced on Monday, four days after four-time Olympian Lisa Weightman reluctantly ended her appeal against non-selection.
It was widely assumed that had Weightman’s appeal been successful, it would be reigning Commonwealth champion Stenson who had to make way.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today
But Gregson and national record holder Diver also feared their spots were in jeopardy, although both said they would probably have appealed had it been them who was overlooked.
The 34-year-old Gregson will now be going to her fourth Olympics — the equal most of any Australian track and field athlete.
![Sinead Diver, Jessica Stenson, Genevieve Gregson and Brett Robinson will represent Australia at the marathon.](https://images.7news.com.au/publication/C-14890099/30fed3a128d6bb376e5bdb8323acbcc62c10b498.jpg?imwidth=650&impolicy=sevennews_v2)
![Sinead Diver, Jessica Stenson, Genevieve Gregson and Brett Robinson will represent Australia at the marathon.](https://images.7news.com.au/publication/C-14890099/30fed3a128d6bb376e5bdb8323acbcc62c10b498.jpg?imwidth=650&impolicy=sevennews_v2)
“It was going to be heartbreaking, no matter what. So when I heard that a girl had appealed I kind of thought ‘yeah, that’s what happens’,” she said.
“… I never felt safe, more just because I respect my opposition and I don’t necessarily think that anyone is a standout over the other.
“I thought the appeal would open up the floor for any of us to be switched out, so that’s why it’s been pretty stressful.”
Having set the Australian record of two hours 21 minutes and 34 seconds in January, Diver had the strongest selection case among the record six women who had bettered the Olympic qualifying standard.
Not that the Irish-born 47-year-old took anything for granted.
“There were obviously points in there when I wasn’t sure if I would still be on the team or not, so it’s been a really, really tough few weeks,” said Diver, who was an impressive 10th in the marathon on her Olympic debut three years ago in Tokyo.
“I knew that between the six of us there were only very minor differences, so it could have been any three.
“I was so, so nervous right up until I got the call.”
Weightman’s appeal became more personal when her husband demanded that Stenson take down a social media profile photo of the two runners and their families.
![Weightman’s husband asked Jess Stenson (nee Trengove) to remove a photo of their families.](https://images.7news.com.au/publication/C-14890099/e332637a9c19c62a06c6688b9308fd17829a27ed.jpg?imwidth=650&impolicy=sevennews_v2)
![Weightman’s husband asked Jess Stenson (nee Trengove) to remove a photo of their families.](https://images.7news.com.au/publication/C-14890099/e332637a9c19c62a06c6688b9308fd17829a27ed.jpg?imwidth=650&impolicy=sevennews_v2)
But the 36-year-old Stenson said she made a conscious effort not to engage.
“I decided just to step back and focus on training and my family,” she said.
“I know there has been some commentary out there, but I don’t actually know the specifics of it.”
Weightman had the third-fastest qualifying time behind Diver and Gregson, but the Australian selectors placed great stead in Stenson’s proven big-event pedigree.
Izzi Batt-Doyle and Eloise Wellings also bettered the qualifying mark.
Brett Robinson and Patrick Tiernan will represent Australia in the men’s marathon in Paris.
Countryman Liam Adams could also be added to the team in the coming weeks if any of the quota spots aren’t filled.