MARATHON RUNNER LIAM ADAMS ADDED TO AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC TEAM FOR PARIS

Electrician Liam Adams has had his Paris 2024 Olympic marathon hopes rekindled, with the 37-year-old’s official selection for the Australian Olympic Team today just 50 days out from the Opening Ceremony in Paris.

Australia’s best finishing male marathon runner at both the Rio and Tokyo Games, Adams will compete at his third Games, after weeks of uncertainty over his qualification.

While Adams initially finished the qualification period amongst the top-80 based on his fastest time during the qualifying period, the addition of several universality places pushed the Victorian out of the quota numbers, leaving questions about his return for his third Olympic Games.

World Athletics reinstated his quota allocation on Wednesday morning Australian time, with the ‘running sparky’ officially selected this morning.

Athlete bio available here

Adams has been part of the Australian national team since 2007 and is the sixth fastest Australian marathon runner ever, with a personal best of 2.08.39.

His 24^th place finish at the Tokyo Olympics was bettered by only one other Australian man in the 21 years since Steve Moneghetti ran 10^th at Sydney 2000.

Adams joins the five athletes announced earlier this week, ensuring Australia will field the maximum allowed number of competitors with three women and three men.

Australian Olympic Committee Chef de Mission Anna Meares welcomed today’s selection.

“I am so thrilled to be able to announce Liam to his third Australian Olympic Team today,” Ms Meares said.

“This has been a rollercoaster few weeks for Liam, but he can now celebrate his place in the Olympic Team with his family, friends, coaches and supporters.

“With just over two months until the starting gun is fired for the marathon in Paris, Liam can now focus fully on being at his best in Paris and continuing his proud Olympic story.

“It is fantastic to see Australia will field a full complement of runners in the Paris Olympic marathon with six athletes now selected.”

Adams said finding out he was officially going to Paris was an incredible relief.

“The nervousness and fear I’ve had over this last month have completely left my body,” he said. “It was such a relief, an instant burst of energy. I’m so excited right now and can’t wait to get stuck into my next training session.”

“It’s the pinnacle of our sport so when you get the opportunity to represent your country at the Olympics, you want to have the race of your life and represent your country with distinction.

“I know I’m a much better marathon runner than I was in my previous Olympics so I’m looking forward to that opportunity. My goal is definitely to improve on my Tokyo Olympic result (24th). I think I can achieve a top 20 finish but I’ll be aiming for even better than that.

“It’s been pretty tough recently. I’ve had a lot on my plate but the motivation is gaining momentum again. The last two weeks I’ve been back up to around 185km weeks. Ideally I wanted to be around 200-220km weeks at this stage. Nevertheless I think I’m in a good position to launch right into 250km weeks when I take some time off work in final preparations for Paris.”

Athletics Australia CEO Peter Bromley celebrated Adams’ selection.

“It’s been a long and nervous wait for Australia’s favourite sparky over the last few weeks and we are absolutely thrilled to see him announced onto the Olympic Team for Paris today.

“Liam has well and truly earned his spot for his third Olympic Games and we are eagerly looking forward to seeing him don the green and gold singlet at the pinnacle event once again.”

Australian Olympic Team for Paris 2024 – Athletics (Marathon)

*Will have birthday between selection date and Paris 2024.

The marathon events are held on 10 August (men) and 11 August (women), starting from the Hôtel de Ville and finishing at Invalides.

The Paris marathon will take in iconic monuments like the Palace of Versailles, the Louvre, and the Eiffel Tour and pays tribute to a key moment in French history and the French Revolution, by following the route of the Women’s March on Versailles in 1789.

The men’s race will be the second last day of competition, with the women’s event the final day – bringing to an end the athletics competition for Paris 2024. For the first time in Olympic history – the marathon course is also open for a public event, with community runners competing in a marathon the evening prior the women’s race.

By the Australian Olympic Committee

Posted: 6/6/2024