Australian Olympian Genevieve Gregson has revealed that she is pregnant, but the announcement came with a bittersweet reminder.
Australian middle-distance runner Genevieve Gregson has revealed she is pregnant with her first child, but the announcement was accompanied by a bittersweet reminder of her brutal recovery since last year’s Tokyo Olympics.
Gregson fell on the last water jump of the women’s 3000m steeplechase final in Tokyo and was quickly picked up by the medical staff, leaving the stadium in a wheelchair.
It was later revealed the 32-year-old had ruptured her right Achilles, a devastating outcome considering she had experienced issues with her left Achilles since the 2016 Games in Rio.
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Gregson documented her recovery on social media over the coming months, sharing several photos of her right leg in a moon boot. She could not walk unassisted until September, several weeks after returning home from Tokyo, while running was near-impossible for the athlete until December.
But on Wednesday afternoon, Gregson revealed to her 158,000 Instagram followers that she and husband Ryan — who is also an Olympic runner — were expecting their first child.
“All my life this is all I’ve ever wanted,” she captioned the post.
“Baby Gregson just around the corner.”
Australian Olympian Jessica Hull commented: “Awww this is lovely news! Congratulations Gen and Ryan!”
Olympic gold medallist Sally Pearson replied: “This is fantastic! Congratulations.”
Fellow athletes Brooke Stratton, Liz Clay and Liz Parnov also shared their congratulations on the post.
But in the photo, Gregson was once again donning a moon boot – but this time on her left leg. In January, she had to once again undergo surgery to shave off some bone that had been rubbing against her left Achilles.
“Let’s try this again,” she posted to Instagram at the time.
“It’s been such an adventure returning to this point of exercise (from my Achilles rupture) but I have loved more days than not, that’s for sure.
“I’m so grateful for everyone around me. We’ve managed to see so many friends and family over the last few months which has made whatever’s going on in my life seem so easy and stress free.
“This next step is a necessary one and I’m excited to be closer again to what I love doing most – racing! Can’t wait.”
Speaking to Channel 7 in Tokyo, Gregson vowed to return to competitive athletics despite the horror setback.
“It’s raw, it’s hard. I’m not okay yet but I will be,” she said in August last year.
“I haven’t spoken to many people so that’s why I’m a bit vulnerable right now but I’ll be happy soon. Just getting through it.
“It’s looking like I’m not just going to get one Achilles fixed I’m going to try and go for both which means the next year ahead of me is pretty brutal.
“I’ll be wheelchair-bound for a while but (her husband) Ryan is on his way home and I’ll meet him in Singapore and we’ll work out a plan from there and it will be a good one because we’re a good team and I wouldn’t have come this far without him.
“I’m just ready to find a plan for the next year or so because I don’t feel like I’m done yet. I love the roads. I think I’ve got a lot to give in the marathon or just in road running in general and I’m such a proud Australian athlete.
“I just couldn’t imagine a setback like this tearing me away from the sport. I don’t see it that way.”
Originally published as ‘All I’ve ever wanted’: Sad detail in Genevieve Gregson’s pregnancy reveal
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