Australian marathon runner Sinead Diver was forced to withdraw from the women’s marathon in harrowing scenes, reigniting debate over her Olympic selection.
Diver, the current Australian women’s marathon record holder, came to a sudden halt just 1.5km into the gruelling 42km race on Sunday.
The 47-year-old man appeared distressed minutes into the race and walked to the side of the road.
He leaned against a crowd barrier before crouching down and clutching his shaking leg before withdrawing from the race.
Medical staff rushed to help Diver, who was in tears following her premature exit, before she was helped back to the start line a short time later.
The emotional scenes dented Australia’s hopes of winning a medal in the race on the final day of the games.
Three-time Australian Olympian Tamsyn Manou (née Lewis) expressed her shock while commenting on the event on Nine.
“I feel sorry for Sinead Diver in this situation because she worked very hard and earned this spot as our fastest athlete, there’s no doubt about that,” Manou said.
Australian athlete Sinead Diver (pictured) appeared to be in distress minutes after the marathon began.
The diver was forced to withdraw after suffering thigh cramps, according to an Australian Olympic Committee spokesman.
He also revealed that Diver had been battling plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the tissue on the bottom of the foot, before the Olympics.
“Sinead Diver has withdrawn from the marathon after experiencing bilateral cramping in both quads at Paris 2024,” the spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.
‘She is devastated and is receiving support from team officials and medical staff.
‘Despite having to deal with plantar fasciitis at times this year, there was no physical reason for Sinead not to compete today.’
Australians Jess Stenson and Genevieve Gregson finished the marathon in 13th and 24th place respectively.
The harrowing incident has reignited a furious debate over the controversial selection process, which began long before the Olympics began.
Despite Diver recording the fastest time to qualify for the event, four-time Olympian Lisa Weightman was controversially snubbed and denied the chance to compete at the Games.
Weightman had the third-fastest qualifying time and was in the running to be part of the three-member team.
The selectors ignored Weightman and instead opted for Stenson, who qualified fourth.
“Of course, I am disappointed by the decision given that I fought hard and fair to achieve my qualifying time,” Weightman said in a statement at the time.
“What I am most disappointed about is the internal systems and procedures within AA (Athletics Australia) that have allowed this outcome to occur and which, unless corrected, will negatively impact future Australian athletes and their legitimate rights to represent Australia.”
An Australian Olympic Committee spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that Diver (pictured) experienced thigh cramps and was forced to withdraw.
The incident sparked an on-air debate between Manou and his co-commentator David Culbert during coverage of the marathon.
This came as Weightman won the Sunshine Coast Half Marathon in a blistering time of 70 minutes at his home in Australia early Sunday.
“All three athletes who were chosen are great athletes in their own right, and I also feel sorry for Sinead Diver in this situation because she worked so hard and earned this spot by being our fastest athlete, there’s no doubt about that,” Manou said.
But she admitted she was “heartbroken” for Weightman, who finished 10th in Tokyo.
Culbert replied: “True, Tamsyn, but you can’t take someone else’s place to run a mile. Sorry.”
“If you know that’s the case, if you know it ahead of time… you’re not chosen to start the race, you’re chosen to try to finish it: that’s the famous story of the marathon.
Culbert added that difficult questions remain.
“We’ll take it as it is,” he said.
“There is a lot of information suggesting there is another story, and the truth is probably somewhere in the middle.”
‘To be honest, unless we get the right answers, there will be a question mark over what has been an incredible campaign for Australia.
The harrowing incident has reignited a furious debate over Australia’s controversial selection process for choosing athletes to take part in the gruelling event (pictured).
Manou added: “No matter what happens in this race… a lot of things will be said in the running community back home.”
Australia had six women to choose from to send to Paris, all of whom qualified under the required time of 2 hours, 26 minutes and 50 seconds.
They included Diver, Gregson, Stenson, Weightman, Isobel Batt-Doyle and Eloise Wellings.
The selection requirements to compete in the event are not based entirely on who has the fastest time.
Other variables include weather conditions, race difficulty and level of competition.