An ugly dispute concerning Australian women's marathon selection has exploded two months out from the athletics program beginning at the Paris Olympics.
Wide World of Sports can exclusively reveal that, as it stands, the three runners selected to compete in the Paris 2024 women's marathon are Sinead Diver, Genevieve Gregson and Jessica Stenson.
WWOS can reveal the team has looked that way for several weeks and that Lisa Weightman, one of six Australian women who met the Olympic entry standard of 2:26:50, has been in a ferocious fight to have selectors backflip and name her on the team.
WWOS can also reveal that an opportunity to lodge one more appeal is available to Weightman.
Diver, Gregson, Stenson, Weightman, Izzi Batt-Doyle and Eloise Wellings all ran far quicker than the 2:26:50 entry standard within the qualification period, but only three can go.
In an alarming turn of events on Tuesday, Weightman's husband, Lachlan McArthur, took to social media and fired an intense message at Stenson.
"@JessTrengove could you please take down your background photo of my family," McArthur wrote.
"BTW, this was after one of the 7-1 all-time head to head wins by @LisaWeightman."
McArthur posted the comment with a photo from years ago in which he, Weightman, their young son, Stenson (née Trengove) and two others appeared to be happy and interacting with warmth.
McArthur's post has been deleted but screenshots of it are bouncing throughout the Australian athletics community. Stenson has also changed her cover photo on X.
Plans for the Australian Olympic Committee to announce the women's marathon team have stalled repeatedly in recent weeks.
One source speaking anonymously because of the seriousness of the situation told WWOS that "plenty of ugly stuff" was going on behind the scenes throughout the selection saga.
Weightman's hopes of becoming the first Australian track and field athlete to contest five Olympic Games appear to be fading fast.
WWOS has requested comment from Athletics Australia.
MORE TO COME.
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