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'I'm heartbroken. Happy birthday me': Gen's gutting reaction to ruptured Achilles in Olympic final

4th August, 2021
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(Photo by Getty Sports)
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4th August, 2021
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Australian distance runner Gen Gregson suffered a shocking fall on the final lap of the Olympic 3000m final, having to leave the track on a wheelchair after rupturing her Achilles.

Gregson, who turned 32 on Wednesday, was in her second straight Olmpic steeple final. She struggled with an Achilles tendon injury in 2019 in the leadup to the postponed Games.

“I’m heartbroken and don’t have the words right now to respond to you all but in short – ruptured Achilles on the last water jump,” she said on social media. “Happy Birthday me! Thank you for all the support & lovely messages. I’ll try to respond in time. For now I need to mend my heart, soul & Achilles.”

Channel Seven reported that she was suffering Achilles soreness before the race in her left leg, but ruptured the right Achilles. It’s an injury that can take up to a year to recover from, and will potentially end her track career.

Tamsyn Manou said in Seven’s commentary that “her family will be devastated watching in Queensland and I think what’s happened is that heat run was done in such extreme heat.

“That’s heartbreaking to watch – to see her grab it straight away,” said Manou. “That’s a long way back, on her birthday too.”

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Her husband Ryan, a middle distance runner who missed out on these Games, is living in London during the Games. The pair are usually inseparable.

In 2019, Gregson wrote in the AthletesVoice she was battling an Achilles injury.

(Photo by Getty Sports)

“It has put me on edge as far as the Tokyo Olympics go, and made me change my approach.

“I don’t do as many sessions. I don’t do hill work. I am on the track less. I don’t really get into spikes or flats that often. I stay in heavy shoes and my mileage is so low.

“I used to run more than 100km a week and lately it’s been more like 80 or 90 but topping up with a lot of cross training. Tokyo is going to be a totally different year with the way I’m approaching it, compared to Rio, but when you’re an elite athlete you can’t treat every year the same.

“There are too many variables and age is one of them. Your tendons and muscles get weaker as you get older. You’ve got to be able to make the changes when necessary to get the most out of your body.

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All these injuries have taught me where my limits are in relation to training but not ability. I think I can run a lot faster over the steeplechase and just tactically be smarter to finish higher than Rio.”

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