Pictured on a giant billboard in the centre of Paris, adjacent to the Eiffel Tower, is former Daisy Hill resident Genevieve Gregson.
The former John Paul College student is about to embark on her fourth Olympics.
At her first three games, Ms Gregson competed in the 3000m steeplechase, becoming the best in Australia’s history.
But after rupturing her achilles tendon, she’s having a crack at the marathon.
“To think of my days as a kid running around Daisy Hill Forest and competing for my school John Paul College, to now just days out from my fourth Olympic Games feels like a surreal experience,” she said.
“You could never have told me life would unfold this way and I’ll be running so determined and strong while I think of my friends and family from home who helped me get here.”
It was in the final of the 3000m steeplechase at the Tokyo Olympics – and coincidentally Ms Gregson’s 32nd birthday – that she injured herself.
She ruptured her right achilles tendon jumping over the final water jump of the race and was escorted off the track on a wheelchair.
Ms Gregson told the Australian Olympic Committee that she “struggled to even talk about” what happened for nearly two years.
“At the time I thought my world had ended,” she said.
“But really, it was an opening door to this way more amazing chapter.
“I find that, emotionally more sad because I could have maybe not had that, but I’m so grateful I do.”
After two years of rehabilitation, and after the birth of son Archer, Ms Gregson began racing again.
In 2023, she won the national half marathon, 12km race and cross-country titles.
Then, at her first marathon on the Gold Coast that same year, she recorded the second-fastest time by an Australian woman on debut.
In December, she ran a time of 2.23.08 at the Valencia Marathon – becoming the third best Australian marathon runner of all time.
She said it was “an absolute privilege” to be featured on a billboard in Paris promoting the 2032 Games.
The other athlete on the poster is Gold Coast para-canoeist Curtis McGrath, who was guest speaker at the 2024 City of Logan Volunteer Awards in May.
