Sinead Diver lasted a kilometre. The veteran Australian marathon runner, who finished 10th in Tokyo three years ago, had been battling injury but thought she was right to run and was cleared by doctors to compete.
A kilometre in, the 47-year-old – the oldest runner in the field – was bent over the barriers. Her marathon was over before it began, fuelling anger on social media, given there had already been controversy over the selection of the women’s team.
Australian Jessica Stenson ran 13th after taking the lead at one point in a gritty run.Credit: Getty Images
The Australian drama was a sidenote to the fact Sifan Hassan from the Netherlands made history winning gold in the marathon days after also winning bronze in the 5000m and 10,000m. It also deflected from the fact Jess Stenson and Gen Gregson …