British distance runner clocked 2:51:03 in Paris on Sunday and then discovered she had a stress fracture
Rose Harvey completed the Olympic marathon in Paris despite limping her way through the 26.2 miles with a stress fracture in her femur.
The 31-year-old was taken away from the finish area in a wheelchair after finishing 78th – in a race won by Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands in 2:22:55.
“This was far from the Olympics I dreamed of, but still an experience of a lifetime,” said Harvey.
“I was so excited to step on that stage, show that I had what it takes to be part of Team GB and most importantly, do everyone proud who has helped me get to this point. And just a couple of weeks ago, it was looking so good. Training had been stellar. Then I developed a bit of tightness in my hip.”
She added: “My incredible team and I put in so much work to make the start line fit and healthy and we were all optimistic that with a bit of race day adrenaline, I would be able to run the race I knew I had in me.
Rose Harvey (Getty)
“A couple of miles in, I quickly realised that wasn’t going to happen. The next 24 miles were a painful battle. It turns out I had stress fractured my femur.”
Team-mate Charlotte Purdue had already withdrawn from the team on the eve of the Games and was replaced by Clara Evans, who finished 46th in 2:33:01. AW spoke to Evans at the finish area and waited for Harvey to emerge but she was taken straight for medical attention and bypassed any interviews. Calli Hauger-Thackery, the third member of the GB women’s marathon team, dropped out mid-race.
READ MORE: Clara Evans rises to the challenge after last-minute call-up
“In any other race, I would have stopped and there were so many moments when I thought I couldn’t take another step,” she added. “The downhills were hell. But despite that most of my race goals having slipped away, there was still a tiny part of my Olympic dream that I could hang on to – and that was finishing the Olympic marathon.
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“I couldn’t give up. I kept telling myself to smile, soak up the energy of the incredible crowds and just put one foot in front of the other.
“It was heartbreaking. But being part of the Olympics is something I’ll never forget and being able to share the race with so many of my amazing friends and family meant the world to me.”
Harvey was selected after running 2:23:21 in Chicago last year.
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