Tokyo 2020 Olympics Games dream over for South Aussie marathon mum Jess Stenson
South Australian marathon runner Jess Stenson’s bid for a third Olympic Games appearance has been cruelly ended by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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South Australian marathon runner Jess Stenson’s dream of racing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics is over as qualification events around the world are cancelled amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Stenson (nee Trengove), who gave birth to her first child, Billy, in November, has not run a marathon since October 2018, outside the qualification window for Tokyo.
The two-time Commonwealth Games bronze medallist had planned to run at the Haspa Hamburg Marathon in Germany next month with a hope of posting a qualifying time for Tokyo.
But all domestic and international marathons have been cancelled up until at least May 31 — the Olympic qualification cut-off date.
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Stenson was realistic about her slim chances of competing in the 2024 Olympics – she is 32-years-old – but was still keen on racing at next year’s world championships or the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
“At this point in time there isn’t an opportunity for me to qualify because I didn’t run a marathon last year,” Stenson, of Allenby Gardens, said.
“But I feel very grateful I’ve been able to go to two Olympics.
“We are really just enjoying what we have at the moment and there’s people in much worse situations.
“For me it was always going to be a big challenge to qualify for these Olympics, anyway.
“I’m now just in a maintenance phase with my training, trying to stay fit and healthy.
“When a race opportunity presents itself down the track, I’ll start building up my training again.”
The International Olympic Committee confirmed on Wednesday the Tokyo Games would still go ahead as planned.
The opening ceremony is scheduled for July 24, despite coronavirus outbreaks around the globe.
Stenson, who finished 39th in the marathon at London in 2012, and 22nd in Rio in 2016, said she was concerned about the impact the virus could have on future Games and athletes.
“What concerns me more is the Olympic movement going forward and how damaging this could be for future Olympic Games, if nations feel it’s too risky to host an Olympics,” she said.
“What we’ve enjoyed in our childhood, seeing our sporting heroes and having Olympic dreams – I’d love for my children and the next generation to have those opportunities as well.
“I just feel really grateful to be involved in a sport like running, where regardless of what’s happening at the moment I can still enjoy running.
“I really hope there is some sort of big sporting celebration after all this.”
Stenson said being a mother had “put everything into perspective” for her and she would continue to enjoy spending time with Billy and her husband Dylan.