Genevieve Gregson’s remarkable comeback to Olympic marathon running

Genevieve is best known for her accomplishments in the 3,000 metres Steeplechase, placing ninth in the final at the Rio 2016 Olympics. With high expectations heading into the Tokyo Olympics, her world was turned upside down in front of a global audience. In the final, Gregson ruptured her right Achillies tendon when she fell coming off the final water jump. The Australian was wheeled off the track in a heartbreaking end to her 32nd birthday.

Determined not to let her injury end her career, the QAS-supported athlete built a new life away from the track. Gregson decided to start a family and switch gears with her sport, taking up marathon running.

Gregson made the move from Melbourne to Brisbane at the end of 2021 and took the time to rehabilitate her body using the resources, tools and experts provided by the Queensland Academy of Sport.

“I’ve had a village of people helping me every step of the way. The QAS has been a crucial part of my comeback.”

One of those people is Senior Strength and Conditioning Coach David Watts. The pair began working together in September 2021 and Gregson returned to running four months later.

Despite her commitment and drive to her rehab, Gregson’s recovery wasn’t straightforward. Falling pregnant with her son Archer meant a different recovery journey, to have surgery on her left and right Achilles tendons to prevent further injury.

“After the birth of Archer, she’s gone from strength to strength,” said strength and conditioning coach David Watts.

“Very quickly I realised Gen is someone who needs to see herself progressing and moving forward. So with her rehab I made sure every session was a little bit more challenging, with a few more reps. Having her see that forward progression was really important to maintaining her excitement and motivation.”

Gregson’s rehabilitation was about more than just the numbers on a stopwatch.
“I try and identify what’s really important to an athlete. For Gen that’s her family and friends. So for Gen’s first run after surgery, I worked with her husband to do a bit of a surprise with her closest family and friends to have them there to celebrate that milestone with her. Gen still speaks fondly of that experience.”

Gregson’s rehab is already paying dividends. She was the first Australian across the finish line at the Valencia Marathon in December last year with a time of 2:23:08.
“Gen had everything all in one place to do her rehab at the QAS. We would start in the gym, then do cross training in the pool. Gen would go for a massage with the onsite physio, then see her dietician. It’s been an all-encompassing support system,” says David Watts.

The Paris Olympics will be Genevieve’s first Games as a marathoner and a mother, with her son Archer cheering her on with fellow athlete and husband Ryan Gregson.