'You chose the wrong man': Snubbed marathon runner Lisa Weightman's coach takes swipe after Olympics saga
The coach of snubbed Australian marathon runner Lisa Weightman has taken a thinly-veiled swipe at Athletics Australia in the wake of Sinead Diver's early Paris withdrawal.
AA was already under fire for its decision to take Jessica Stenson (née Trengove) to Paris over Weightman, despite setting a slower time in the qualification period.
The decision denied Weightman the chance to run in her fifth Games. She was the reserve and would have been first called should any of the other three pull out in the lead up.
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Diver was forced to pull out of the marathon only 1.2km into the 42.2km run, having battled injury in the lead up, as revealed by Wide World of Sports.
AA is now copping more heat for not at least taking Weightman to Paris as cover.
Lisa Weightman running at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest last year. Sam Mellish/Getty Images
In a social media post on Wednesday, Weightman's coach of 15 years Dick Telford suggested AA chose not to take Weightman at all because the coaches of the other three runners were employed by the governing body.
"After 15 years as your coach, I have to admit you chose the wrong man," Telford said.
"Better to have an AA 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."
Weightman was reportedly willing to fly to Paris as late as 72 hours before the race.
All 53 of Australia's incredible medal victories at Paris Olympics 2024
All 53 of Australia's incredible medal victories at Paris Olympics 2024
While Stenson more than justified her selection when she beat Genevieve Gregson home in a time of 2:26:45, the sport's governing body is copping more heat for not taking Weightman to Paris as cover.
Australia's top male marathon runner, Brett Robinson, pulled out a fortnight before the race and was replaced by Andy Buchanan. Robinson personally called Buchanan to deliver the news.
AA's decision to not have Weightman in Paris was made all the more baffling as Diver's preparation was hampered as she battled plantar fasciitis, which meant she did little training in the weeks leading up to Paris.
Sinead Diver was forced to pull out of the marathon only 1.2km into the race. Nine
Then on the morning of the race, Diver reportedly experienced heavy spasming in her quads during warm-up, before they seized as the race began.
Six women – the aforementioned four plus Izzi Batt-Doyle and Eloise Wellings – all set times fast enough for selection. Only three could be picked for Paris.
Diver's time was fastest, followed by Gregson, Weightman, Batt-Doyle, Stenson and Wellings.
Diver has defended her decision not to withdraw earlier, and give her place to Weightman.
