Genevieve Gregson's heartwarming reunion after injury at Olympics
Australian Olympic hero Genevieve Gregson has shared the moment she was reunited with her partner in the wake of her devastating injury in Tokyo.
On crutches after rupturing her achilles in the dying stages of the steeplechase final, it was an emotional reunion for Gregson and her fiancee, former Olympian Ryan Gregson.
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The video, which Gregson shared on her Instagram page, showed the pair embracing at Singapore Airport.
Gregson also revealed in her stories that she will have surgery on her injured achilles this week, and has been taking blood thinners to avoid a clot forming as a result of the injury.
One of the most popular and well-known members of the Australian track and field team, Gregson was competing at her third Olympics.
Gregson had her 32nd birthday on that now somewhat painful day in Tokyo, where she crashed at the last water jump at the Olympic Stadium and left the arena in a wheelchair in obvious distress.
She was treated by Australian medical staff and later posted a picture of herself on social media with her injured right leg in a support.
"I'm heartbroken & don't have the words right now to respond to you all but in short - ruptured Achilles on the last water jump," Gregson wrote.
"Happy Birthday me! Thank you for all the support & lovely messages. I'll try to respond in time.
"For now I need to mend my heart, soul & Achilles."
Gen Gregson's heartbreaking interview after Tokyo Olympics injury
Gregson fell on the final water obstacle of the 3000m event, needing to be taken from the Olympic Stadium in a wheelchair before the extent of her injury was confirmed a short time later.
Her left achilles had been troubling her dating back to the 2016 Rio Olympics, but it was right leg that failed her so close to the end in Tokyo, leaving her facing a daunting recovery.
Having spent so long compensating to her right, she simply said 'something had to give'.
Speaking to Channel 7 a few days after the injury, Gregson said the emotions were still buzzing days afterwards.
“It’s raw, it’s hard. I’m not okay yet but I will be,” she said.
“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.”
Despite the heartbreak of Tokyo and the gruelling recovery ahead of her, Gregson said her next move would likely be to rehabilitate both of her injured legs, acknowledging the enormity of the task ahead of her.
“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,” she said.
“I’ll be wheelchair-bound for a while but (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."
As for her future competitive hopes, Gregson said there would be no stopping her once healthy.
“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," she said.
"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.”
With AAP
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