Rio 2016 Olympic Games

Lisa Weightman and Sandro Bisetto have become the first two MUAC members named as part of the Australian Team for the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio.  Weightman, who was 33rd at Beijing 2008 and 17th at London 2012, not only has experience on her side she now has her young son Peter as part of her cheer squad.

“I’m an experienced marathon runner now and Rio is an opportunity to run my heart out and be proud that I’ve given it everything I have,” Weightman, who won bronze at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, said.

“Rio to me, is about family sacrifice, team work and persistence. I recently had a charming little boy and I am so glad he will get to see me run on TV in the green and gold – I want to make him proud of his mum!”

Weightman was referred to as the ‘super mum’ in the running community after finishing second at the Houston Marathon in January, only 13 months after the birth of Peter. Her time of 2:27.53, the fastest by an Australian in the Olympic qualification window, easily surpassed the Rio qualifying timeand was not much slower than her fantastic run at the London Games (2:27.12). Only Olympic silver medallist Lisa Ondieki has produced a faster run by an Australian woman at the Olympics.

“I am so excited to be competing against the best marathon runners in the world in Rio and will wear the green and gold with pride and courage. I know how to compete and I know how to prepare which helps build confidence.” Recently Weightman has clocked some personal best sessions at the Rawlinson Track and will head to Rio ready to race.

The Rio marathons will start and finish at the famous Sambódromo, the legendary home of the Rio Carnival parade, with a loop course near the edge of Guanabara Bay. The women’s race will take place in the morning of 14 August, which is the third day of the athletics competition at Rio 2016.

MUAC jumps coach Sandro Bisetto has been named as vertical jumps and combined events Athletics Australia Team Coach for the Rio 2016 Olympics. Bisetto, long regarded as Australia’s premier high jump coach, will hopefully be joined by his charge, University of Melbourne student Joel Baden. Read more about the Australian Team Coaches here.