Fallout from Australian Olympic marathon team selection reignites

The long-time coach of a subbed Aussie Olympian let rip in a cryptic social media spray.

Long-time coach of overlooked four-time Olympian Lisa Weightman, Dick Telford, has taken a cheeky jab at Athletics Australia.

The snubbing of Weightman, who was overlooked in favour of Jess Stenson for the marathon team, has sparked widespread debate and criticism in the wake of the 2024 Paris games.

Earlier this week, fellow Australian marathon runner Sinead Diver, who was part of the Olympic marathon team, revealed the toll that the selection controversy and subsequent online backlash had taken on her. Diver’s race in Paris ended in disappointment when she withdrew just 1.2 kilometres into the marathon, a decision she attributed partly to “online vitriol leading up to the event.

Weightman was controversially left off the marathon team for the Paris Olympics despite having a faster qualification time than some selected runners. Picture: Peter Ristevski

The selection controversy was criticised by various individuals, including Weightman’s coach Dick Telford (pictured) and Australian Olympic great Sally Pearson. Picture Kym Smith

Weightman, who was hoping to make her fifth Olympic appearance in Paris, was controversially left off the marathon team despite having a faster qualification time than Stenson, Diver, and Genevieve Gregson. Stenson was chosen over Weightman due to her proven track record at major championships, including a gold medal at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, and her ability to handle hilly courses like the one in Paris.

Stenson finished 13th in the marathon at 2:26:45, while Gregson placed 24th at 2:29:56.

Diver, unfortunately, had to pull out early due to severe cramping in both quadriceps, leaving her devastated.

“Sinead Diver withdrew from the marathon after experiencing bilateral cramping in both quadriceps at Paris 2024,” the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) later explained in a statement.

“Despite managing plantar fasciitis at times this year, there was no physical reason for Sinead not to compete today.”

However, Dick Telford, Weightman’s coach for the past 15 years, had a different perspective.

Responding to a tweet about the Weightman snub, the 79-year-old coach sarcastically stated that his client was better off with another, perhaps more-connected coach.

“After 15 years as your coach, @LisaWeightman, I have to admit you chose the wrong man,” Telford wrote.

“Better to have an @AthleticsAust employee coach/manager close to selection/management action. Sinead and Gen (both Nic Bideau), Jess (Adam Didyk), and Andy replacing Brett (both Bideau), chose wisely.”

The controversy surrounding the marathon team selection was one of the major dramas leading up to the Paris Olympics.

Fellow Australian marathon runner Sinead Diver withdrew from the marathon in Paris due to severe cramping, partly attributing it to ‘online vitriol’ and the selection controversy.

Six Australian women qualified for the marathon, including Weightman, who had the third-fastest time in the qualification period.

The decision to select Stenson, who was ranked fourth, over Weightman led to significant backlash.

Weightman’s non-selection led to an appeal that reached the National Sports Tribunal, but her bid to be included in the team was ultimately unsuccessful.

The 45-year-old was devastated by the outcome, a sentiment echoed by Australian Olympic great Sally Pearson, who criticised the selection process in an exclusive column for news.com.au.

“It’s a very grey area, but in black-and-white terms, it’s simple to say Weightman qualified with the third quickest time and did everything she could to earn a spot on the plane to France,” she wrote.

“Her time of 2:23:15 was only behind Gregson’s 2:23:08 and Diver’s 2:21:34, but ahead of Izzi Batt-Doyle (2:23:27), Eloise Wellings (2:25:47), and critically Stenson (2:24:01). I’m disappointed with the national selection panel, but I’m more shocked at the integrity of Athletics Australia and how this has become a total farce.”

Sinead Diver, Genevieve Gregson and Jessica Stenson celebrate being selected. The decision led to significant backlash, and Weightman’s appeal to be included in the team was ultimately unsuccessful. Picture: David Caird

In a raw Instagram post following the race, Diver detailed her experience and expressed her devastation over the unexpected events.

“I’m absolutely devastated to have had to DNF at my second Olympic Games,” Diver wrote.

“I was dealing with a plantar issue in the lead-in to this race. It was manageable and I was training, fit and ready to race. That had nothing to do with why I pulled out. In the warm-up, my quads started to spasm without any warning. I hoped it would resolve as I started running, but it didn’t, and they seized up within the first kilometre to the point that I couldn’t bend my knees.”

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Diver, who set the fastest marathon time by an Australian woman (2:21:04) in 2022, reflected on the selection controversy’s role in her withdrawal.

“I don’t fully understand what’s caused this,” she admitted.

“The lead-up to this race has been one of the most challenging times of my life. The vitriol online has had a significant impact on my mental health, and I have no doubt that has played a part in my body breaking down in this way. The culmination of stress over the last few weeks has finally taken its toll.”

Diver expressed gratitude to those who had supported her during this difficult period.

“Thank you to everyone else who has shown kindness & empathy and sent messages of support to acknowledge that we are all human and sometimes things happen that are out of our control, no matter how hard we try,” she wrote.

Diver also paid tribute to her teammates, with Stenson responding warmly, “Your bravery yesterday morning is something that I will never forget, Sinead. I feel very fortunate to have you as a role model and a teammate. We love you.”