Australian veteran Sinead Diver was forced to withdraw from the Paris Marathon after suffering severe cramp, it has emerged.
The 47-year-old man The Australian record holder had high hopes of making it to Paris, having finished a brave 10th on her Games debut three years ago in Tokyo.
But her race came to an end after just 1.2 kilometres and she was seen leaning over a roadside barrier in unusual scenes.
Now Australian high performance boss Andrew Faichney has shed light on what caused the race’s most senior competitor to pull out.
“I feel comfortable with the decision to race, she was in the team medical camp and she and the medical team cleared her to race,” Faichney said.
‘Today’s incident had nothing to do with the plantar fasciitis in his right foot.
‘He suffered cramps in both quadriceps and it started before the race.
“Obviously, having to finish so early was extreme (the cramps).”
Sinead Diver’s reason for withdrawing from marathon revealed
The Australian veteran was forced to retire after just 1.2 kilometres of racing.
The timing was particularly galling as four-time Olympian Lisa Weightman, who unsuccessfully appealed against her non-selection for Paris, won the Sunshine Coast Half Marathon in a fast time just hours earlier.
Had Weightman’s appeal in May been successful, she would have replaced Jess Stenson on the Olympic team.
Stenson was Australia’s top runner in Paris, crossing the finish line in 13th place.
Genevieve Gregson, who placed 24th on Sunday, paid tribute to Diver’s resilience.
“I know she wasn’t having the most ideal preparation over the last few days,” Gregson said.
“When we were all gathered in the call room, we gave each other a big hug and just said, ‘Whatever you do today, we’re going to be so proud of you.'”
Australian men’s marathon record holder Brett Robinson has pulled out of the Paris Games with a glute injury just days before his race.
Despite his disappointment, Robinson personally called Andrew Buchanan to tell him to pack his bags and head to Paris to replace him.