Jessica Stenson and Genevieve Gregson gave an incredible performance in the women’s marathon on August 11, the event which marked the closure of the Paris Games.
Stenson records one of the best finishes in Australian Olympic history, joining ranks with Lisa Ondeiki (1984 & 1988), Sinead Diver (2020) and Kerryn McCann (2000) as the only women placing higher than 13th. Stenson’s time of 2:26.45 is the second fastest for an Australian at the Olympic Games, just behind Ondeiki’s silver at Seoul 1988.
“It was really tough, but just so interesting. Like, there were things to focus on throughout the entire run it was a lot of fun,” Jess said.
“I think I was quite nervous about the final ten kilometres because I knew there was always something to focus on for the first 32 kilometres and I didn’t want to get mentally overwhelmed in the final ten.
“I started going through every marathon I’ve ever run in my head and thinking about how I felt at this point, obviously thinking about my family. It’s the first time Mum, Dad, Abby, Jack, Dylan and the kids, my mother in law have all been at a marathon to support me and I kept thinking of them too so that gave me a lot of inspiration.”
Unfortunately, Sinead Diver was forced to withdraw from the race after only four and a half minutes due to bilateral cramping in both quadriceps. Diver was supported by team officials and medical staff, at the heartbreaking end to her Paris dreams.
For Gregson, it was only her third marathon, recording an incredible time of 2:29.56. The four-time Olympic steeplechase athlete made up for the disappointment of snapping her Achilles in the Tokyo steeple by racing on the challenging Paris course.
“I’m probably a little disappointed just because my body didn’t hold up and that’s like a frustrating feeling,” Gen said.
“If you guys have run a marathon when you’re breathing is so relaxed and you feel like you just want to sprint, but every time you go, you cramp. It’s just so frustrating.
“But I am proud and it’s really cool to be back at the Olympics after what happened three years ago.”
One hour in, Stenson was leading the field as she pushed into the hilly section of the undulating course, Gregson joined her at the front where they were seen chatting as they led the Olympic marathon for a short time.
“Early on because it was a little pedestrian we had a chance to chat a lot. Any time it eased up to silly pace, Jess and I would push it, or Jess pushed it and I would chase her,” Gen said.
“It was really fun to kind of have a bit of tactic in a marathon. That’s something I’ve never experienced. At the top of that hill, the last brutal hill, I just remember looking at Jess run off and I was like, I’m gonna do that, and it didn’t work as well. For me, it was just about getting home and avoiding my hamstrings snapping,” Gen explained.
“But like Jess said, it was stunning. It was so much fun to run, and I’d love to do it again.”
Gen’s husband, dual Olympian Ryan Gregson was out on the course on a bike, ‘he was popping up and yelling at us everywhere’ and there was plenty of Australian support right across the course. The Australians were also inspired watching Jessica Hull win her sensational silver in the 1500m.
“We’ve had so much inspiration from our teammates and the great Australian performances for this race,” Jess said.
The women’s marathon was an exciting race. In the final 500 metres, the Netherland’s Sifan Assan and Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa were neck and neck, before Hassan burst in front for the final 150 metres to win by just three seconds in an Olympic record of 2:22.55.
Thank you to Andrew Reid, Athletics Australia and Australian Olympic Committee. Thank you to Athletics Australia for providing this content.
