Four-time Olympian Lisa Weightman’s coach Dick Telford takes aim at Athletics Australia

The coach of four-time Australian Olympian Lisa Weightman has taken a sarcastic swipe at Athletics Australia in the wake of her well documented marathon snubbing.

Weightman was controversially overlooked for what would have been her fifth Olympic berth in Paris when Athletics Australia chose Jess Stenson, whose qualification time was slower than Weightman’s, Sinead Diver and Genevieve Gregson.

Athletics Australia used its discretional power to choose Stenson over Weightman because of her proven track record at major championship races, like the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games where she won gold, and her ability to take on hills, given the undulating course Paris had set.

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Stenson more than justified her selection when she was the first Aussie across the line in 13th, having even led the race around the halfway point.

But veteran long-distance running coach Dick Telford, who has mentored Weightman for the past 15 years, chose to take a different view.

In a social media post dripping in sarcasm, the 79-year-old appeared to insinuate that Athletics Australia were compromised in their selection process, given they employ the coaches of Stenson, Diver and Gregson.

“After 15y as your coach @LisaWeightman, I have to admit you chose the wrong man,” he wrote.

“Better to have an @AthleticsAust employee coach/manager close to selection/management action.

“Sinead and Gen (both Nic Bideau), Jess (Adam Didyk) and Andy replacing Brett (both Bideau), chose wisely.”

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