BIOGRAPHY
Genevieve Gregson is one of Australia's most accomplished middle-distance women of all-time, with the dual Olympic finalist and Australian record holder bound for her fourth Olympic Games in Paris. Her journey in the sport over the last three years since the Tokyo Olympics has been dynamic.
In her Tokyo Olympic heat, she placed sixth and qualified for the final with a solid 9:26.11. It was her second consecutive Olympic final with Madeline Heiner in 2016 Australia’s only other Olympic finalist in this event.
In the final, on her 32nd birthday it would be no fairy tale for Genevieve as she ruptured her right Achilles tendon over the final water jump of the race.
“It was just a gunshot. It just snapped so sharp and fast and loudly.” She was helped off the track on a wheelchair.
For nearly two years after the injury, she struggled to even talk about it.
“At the time I thought my world had ended. But really, it was an opening door to this way more amazing chapter. I find that, emotionally more sad because I could have maybe not had that, but I'm so grateful I do.”
After intense rehabilitation the next two years have included the birth of son Archer (on 15 June 2022) and transition to the road and the marathon. She had her first races in late October 2022,
Her 2023 was very hectic, setting three half-marathon PBs, winning the National half marathon, 12km and cross-country titles. But it was the new distance of 26-miles where she made an immediate impact. Clocking 2:28.33 in her marathon debut on the Gold Coast in July. It was the second fastest time by an Aussie woman on debut.
Then in December 2023 she lined up in the Valencia Marathon in a field that included many of the best Australians. She would be the first Aussie over the line in a time of 2:23.08 – elevating her to number three fastest Aussie all-time.
In June she was selected for her fourth Olympic Games, Paris 2024.
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Raised on the Gold Coast, Genevieve started Little Athletics around the age of seven and fell in love with cross country running at school in Year 5. As a teenager, Gregson won the national schools U18 3000m in 2006, before running a PB of 9:38.74 to win silver in the Zatopek U20 race.
After finishing school in Queensland, she headed to America in 2008 where she commenced an athletics scholarship at the University of Florida. In her first year on the track in 2009, she ran distances from 1500m to 5000m and made her steeplechase debut with a modest 10:30.79. She qualified and ran the 5000m at the NCAA Championships. After an unspectacular 2010 US college season, she made a breakthrough in 2011 running four PBs, bringing her steeple best down to 9:59.44 and placing fifth in the NCAAs. In her final year at college (2012), she set career-best marks over 800m, 1500m, the mile, 5000m and the steeple, winning silver in the latter at the NCAA championships. She was also selected in the steeplechase for the London Olympics where she set a PB (9:37.90) but was eliminated in the heats. In 2013 and 2014, she continued to trim her bests and the highlight of her year was fifth in the steeplechase at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
In 2016, she compiled a stunning series of performances. From May 1 to September 9, she made two Olympic finals, broke the national steeplechase record and ran 14 PBs. Maybe even more spectacular were her 27 days (13 August to 9 September) where she set five PBs (three in the Olympics) in eight races and broke the Australian record. Her Rio campaign was of the highest quality, placing ninth in the steeplechase and 12th in the 5000m finals.
Her domestic season in 2017 was highlighted by appearances for Team Australian at Nitro Athletics, where she was co-captain. In Doha, in May, she nailed the world championships steeplechase qualifier to earn her selection. Injuries, including ruptured plantar fascia, ankle problem and foot fracture curtailed any racing until August 9 when she competed in London at the 2017 World Championships. Considering her difficult preparation, her performance was terrific progressing through the heat to place 12th in the final in an excellent 9:26.25. Unfortunately, she re-fractured her fourth metatarsal and was locked in a battle to recover for the domestic season. At Christmas she resumed running, but sat out the nationals and Commonwealth Games trials. However, she was selected in the team for the Gold Coast Games, where she placed fifth. Injured during most of 2019, she made a successful last minute attempt to qualify for the 2019 World Championships running 9:37 in late August.
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Maiden name: LaCaze…..Study: Applied Physiology and Kinesiology at University of Florida…..Interesting facts: Grew up on a farm and has French Mauritian ancestry…..Hero: Eloise Wellings. She has helped me develop as an athlete and also as a person…..Advice to your younger self: Keep it fun and don’t take your results too seriously early on. Do as many sports as possible…..Memorable sporting moment/s: Rio 2016 Olympic Games, making the 3000m steeplechase and 5000m finals. Also a week later breaking the Australian record for the 3000m steeplechase….. Biggest influence: parents, husband Ryan Gregson & coach Nic Bideau.
@ 6 June 2024 david.tarbotton@athletics.org.au
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