A top athletics coach has aimed a swipe at Sinead Diver and Athletics Australia following her disastrous run in Paris.
Diver, 47, was forced to pull out of the women’s marathon at the Olympic Games last week just 1.2 kilometres into the race, later citing quadricep cramps as the reason for her withdrawal.
It reignited a fierce debate that unfolded before the Paris Games, with the sport sent into shock at the omission of four-time Olympian Lisa Weightman from the team.
Weightman was omitted in favour of Jess Stenson, despite producing a faster qualifying time compared to her compatriot, and Diver revealed that she had been subject to online abuse as a result of the controversial decision.
Stenson finished 13th while Gregson placed 24th and Diver did not finish.
And now Dick Telford, who has been Weightman’s coach for 15 years, took aim at Athletics Australia for the decision, before airing a wild theory as to his pupil’s omission.
‘After 15 years as your coach, @LisaWeightman, I have to admit you chose the wrong man,’ the 79-year-old posted on Twitter.
‘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.’
Dick Telford has aimed a brutal dig at Athletics Australia and Sinead Diver
Sinead Diver was forced to pull out of the Olympic Games marathon after just 1.2km
A devastated Diver broke her silence on her marathon performance earlier this week, revealing that ‘online vitriol’ had taken its toll.
‘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.
It reignited a huge controversy before the games, with Lisa Weightman snubbed
‘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.
‘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.’
Teammate Stenson responded: ‘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.’
