Olympic Games: Mystery reason behind Aussie star withdrawal from marathon after just 1.2KM revealed
Australian veteran Sinead Diver was forced to withdraw from the Paris Marathon after suffering from severe cramps, it has been announced.
The 47-year-old The Australian record holder had high hopes for Paris, after finishing an impressive tenth in her Olympic debut three years ago in Tokyo.
But her race came to an end after just 1.2 kilometres and she was spotted in unusual scenes over a guardrail on the side of the road.
Now Australian athlete Andrew Faichney has revealed the reason why the oldest competitor withdrew.
“I have no problem with her decision to participate. She went through the medical at the team camp and she and the medical team cleared her to participate,” Faichney said.
‘Today it had nothing to do with the plantar fasciitis in her right foot.
‘She got cramps in both quadriceps and that started before the race.
‘So it was very (cramped) that she had to be ready so quickly.’
The reason behind Sinead Diver’s withdrawal from the marathon has been revealed
The Australian veteran had to withdraw after just 1.2 kilometers of the race
The timing was particularly painful, as four-time Olympian Lisa Weightman (who unsuccessfully appealed her non-selection for Paris) had won the Sunshine Coast half marathon with a fast time just hours earlier.
If Weightman’s appeal had been successful in May, she would have replaced Jess Stenson on the Olympic roster.
Stenson was the best Australian in Paris, finishing thirteenth.
Genevieve Gregson, who finished 24th on Sunday, paid tribute to Diver’s resilience.
“I know she hasn’t had the best preparation over the last few days,” Gregson said.
“When we all gathered in the call room, we gave each other a big hug and said, ‘Whatever you do today, we will be so proud of you.’”
Australian men’s marathon record holder Brett Robinson was forced to withdraw from the Paris Games just days before the Games due to a buttock injury.
Despite his disappointment, Robinson personally called Andrew Buchanan to tell him to pack his bags and go to Paris as his replacement.