Australia's Genevieve Gregson has thanked all of her supporters in an emotional tribute as she prepares for surgery on a ruptured Achilles tendon in her right leg.<\/p>\n
Gregson earlier this month at the Tokyo Olympics<\/a> was within sight of the finish of the 3000m steeplechase, before she fell at the final water hurdle<\/a>, suffering a long-term Achilles injury.<\/p>\n The Australian, who was celebrating her 32nd birthday on the day she was injured, was taken away in a wheelchair as fans anxiously watched on back home.<\/p>\n Gregson took to social media today to thank her fans, but at the same time revealed the brutal mental toll the injury had caused.<\/p>\n "Surgery day. Today is the first step to recovery. Mentally I have been healing every day and finding peace in each night I go to sleep," Gregson wrote on Instagram.<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CSdBvKKh8jp\/<\/a><\/p>\n "I still wake up anxious and a bit worried of the uncertainty ahead.<\/p>\n "I still cry from time to time, I do often wish this journey looked much different, and I constantly daydream about being able to walk out the door for a run.<\/p>\n "Yet amongst these negative thoughts, my day is outweighed by all the wonderful, supportive and loving messages and gestures I have received.<\/p>\n "I have infinite thank yous still to send out to all the people that have made it their job to check in.<\/p>\n "Thanks to everyone, this next step is less daunting than when I faced it a week ago. So in saying this, I'm as ready as I ever will be. Let's get this Achilles reattached!"<\/p>\n Gregson is a three-time Olympian, having competed at London, Rio and Tokyo.<\/p>\n For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by<\/em><\/strong> clicking here!<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"