Lisa Weightman has reluctantly given up on her dream of contesting a record fifth Olympic Games marathon, with a last-minute change of heart that keeps the door open for Commonwealth champion Jess Stenson to complete a remarkable comeback in Paris.
Weightman, 45, appealed her initial non-selection in the three-strong Australian squad to the National Sports Tribunal in May. The NST recommended that Athletics Australia appoint an independent committee to reconsider their selection.
AA declined to do so after providing documentation as to why Weightman had been overlooked in favour of Sinead Diver, Genevieve Gregson and Stenson. Fellow Australians Izzi Batt-Doyle and Eloise Wellings had also bettered the Olympic qualifying standard.
Weightman had the third fastest Australian time in the qualifying period behind Diver and Gregson, but the selectors placed great weight in Stenson’s proven big-event pedigree, including gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Weightman has finished in the top 35 at the past four Olympics, with a best of 16th at London in 2012, and was was bidding to become the first Australian track and field athlete to compete at five Olympics.
Five minutes before the 5.10pm AEST deadline on Wednesday, Weightman informed AA she was going to make one final appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland. But several hours later, she did another backflip and decided not to appeal to CAS, due to the high costs and perceived low chance of having the decision overturned in her favour.
“I am of course disappointed by the decision given that I fought hard and fair to gain my qualification time – the third fastest of all Australian women during the qualification period,” Weightman said in a statement.
“However, what I am most disappointed about is AA’s own internal systems and procedures that have allowed this outcome and which, unless corrected, will negatively impact future Australian athletes and their legitimate claims to represent Australia.”
Weightman’s husband Lachlan McArthur had earlier publicly messaged Stenson [née Trengove] on X, formerly Twitter, with a since-deleted post saying, “@JessTrengove could you please take down your background photo of my family. BTW, this was after one of the 7-1 all-time head to head wins by @LisaWeightman”.
Stenson changed the photo and McArthur later posted, “Thank you @JessTrengove for taking down the photo. It is much appreciated. We have a heartbroken family here”. McArthur’s account has since been deleted.
The 36-year-old Stenson made a triumphant return to elite marathoning in Daegu, South Korea in April, setting a personal best of two hours 24 minutes one second, just six months after the birth of her second child. In addition to the 2022 Commonwealth title, Stenson has also twice finished in the top 12 in world championships marathons and was 22nd at the Rio Olympics.
AA president Jane Flemming backed the selectors’ decision to choose Stenson, Diver and Gregson, while acknowledging it was “distressing” for those like Weightman who were overlooked.
“As an Olympian, I have seen decades of Olympic teams selected and it is not unusual for there to be debate over decisions of a selection panel such as Athletics Australia’s independent and expert body of selectors, and an appeals process exists for this reason,” Flemming said in a statement.
“We understand this can be distressing for athletes who miss selection and these matters are often highly charged. However the independent body of selectors is made up of industry experts, who understand Athletics Australia’s nomination policy and the nuances of the sport.”
