MAYO NATIVE SINEAD Diver has been officially selected for the Australian team for this summer’s Tokyo Olympic Games.
The 44-year-old will compete at her first Olympics, running the marathon, after finding athletics in her thirties and completing her first official 26.2-miler in October 2014.
Having missed out on Rio 2016 through injury, Diver — a mother of two — now joins the six-strong marathon team of her adopted country, having lived in Melbourne for almost 20 years now.
💥 TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT💥Australia’s top marathoners & racewalkers have taken the next stride in their journey to @Tokyo2020 , being announced to the @AUSOlympicTeam today. More at: https://t.co/XBOjBuiHeC@LisaWeightman @brettrobinson91 @Elokane @diversinead @rhydianc pic.twitter.com/Cb9CUn7vsL
— Athletics Australia (@AthsAust) June 4, 2021
The other racers are Lisa Weightman, preparing for her fourth Games, Brett Robinson Liam Adams returning for their second, with Diver, Ellie Pashley, and Jack Rayner making their respective Olympic debuts.
“Diver, Weightman and Pashley combine as the strongest trio Australia has ever sent to a Games, with all three in the Australian top-8 all time,” a statement reads.
The Belmullet star becomes the oldest athlete to race for Australia in Olympic athletics competition, though the focus on her age frustrates Diver.
“I know, in some ways, it’s meant to be complimentary,” she said in a profile for the Australian Olympic Committee, as quoted by AP.
“Not a lot of athletes continue to find success in their 40s, but I’ve been running for a relatively short period of time, so it’s a very different scenario for me.”
Her story is a reminder of all that's great about the Olympic ideal - after missing out in 2016 through injury, few will deserve their shot more in Tokyo. https://t.co/7BxCn9s5UA
— Cathal Dennehy (@Cathal_Dennehy) June 4, 2021
Diver says success at any age “is all about your mindset.”
“I’m still really motivated and determined because I haven’t been doing it for that long,” she said. “My age isn’t an issue with people I train with. They’re all a lot younger than me but they show me the same respect as anyone else in the group.”
Diver’s PB is 2:24.11, set in the 2019 London Marathon as she secured Olympic qualification. She finished eighth in the 2020 edition, clocking 02:27:07 in wet conditions.
