“I’m speechless, I’m so happy. I didn’t expect to come top ten. It was something I really wanted before the race and had to fight for it towards the end. I had to sprint to get past the girl in front of me, so I’m very happy to be able to do that,” Diver said. 

“My coach said to me before the race that for the first 90 minutes I just had to stay comfortable, pulling back a bit. I gave it everything from about 32 kilometres, it’s really hot out there but I’m so relieved I was able to bring it home.” 

Diver was 36th at 5km, 28th at halfway, 16th at 35km and passed another athlete in the final 200 metres to finish top-10. 

Diver, 44, is the most successful Australian marathon athlete internationally since Steve Moneghetti retired and has been away from her husband and two children for more than nine weeks to pursue her goal of becoming an Olympian. 

“I’ve been away from my kids for quite a few weeks now and I really miss then. I hope they are proud of their mum and I want to thank my husband Colin. He has supported me so much throughout this. He has taken on more than his fair share of things so I’m very grateful. I’m just so lucky and so fortunate.” 

Australia was also represented by Olympic first-timer Ellie Pashley and four-time Olympian Lisa Weightman, who placed 23rd (2:33.39) and 26th (2:34.19) respectively. Never before have a trio of Australian women all finished in the top 30. A remarkable achievement in a field of 88. 

“I’m really proud, all the girls did amazing, and we stuck it out,” Weightman said. 

“It did feel like a battlefield when we were all getting ready, ice baths, ice towels and the works. It has been an experience that we will never forget.”

Pashley echoed Weightman, citing the teamwork that went on between the duo. 

“I think we all raced a really smart race. I’m just so happy to be finished, to be honest. The last six kilometres were a bit of a death march. Lisa and I were together for a lot of the race and running conservatively early on. That was the key to getting to the end,” Pashley said.  

“We’ve all got a huge amount of respect for each other. Lisa and Sinead have done amazing things in their careers and they are huge role models for me.”

The men’s marathon descends on the same three-loop course on Sunday morning, with Liam Adams, Jack Rayner and Brett Robinson to race for medals in Sapporo. 

Competition concludes at the Olympic Stadium tonight. The women’s high jump final features Eleanor Patterson and Nicola McDermott, while the men’s 1500m final welcomes Stewart McSweyn and Ollie Hoare. The Aussies are looking to add to the bronze medals to Ash Moloney in the decathlon and Kelsey-Lee Barber in the javelin. 

Sascher Ryner