Australian men’s marathon record-holder Brett Robinson withdraws from Paris Olympics due to injury

Australian men’s marathon record-holder Brett Robinson has withdrawn from the Paris Olympics due to a glute injury.

His omission paves the way for Andy Buchanan to join the team as his replacement.

Buchanan was added as an emergency in recent days, and will now make his Olympic debut.

The Australian Olympic Team confirmed the news late on Friday afternoon (AEST).

“Marathoner Andy Buchanan has had a late call up to the Australian Olympic Team in Paris, with news that Australian record-holder Brett Robinson has been forced to withdraw due to injury,” the team said in a statement.

Despite the disappointment of having to pull the pin on what would have been his third Games, it was Robinson himself who called Buchanan to let him know the good news.

“The 33-year-old Buchanan will make his Olympic debut, after receiving a call from two-time Olympian Robinson to tell him he was unable to compete in Paris due to a glute injury,” the statement continued.

Buchanan, from Bendigo in Victoria, said it was a testament to the character of Robinson.

“To get the news from Brett himself shows the type of person he is,” he said.

“We are mates, but it was still an awkward situation. I was disappointed for him that he couldn’t compete but at the same time stoked that I get an opportunity.

“Brett has changed the Aussie men’s marathon. He was the first to have the confidence to push the boundaries.

“(Marathon teammates) Pat (Tiernan), Liam (Adams) and I are just following in his footsteps.

⁠”I don’t think it has sunk in just yet. You normally spend months preparing for a marathon and it’s quite a strange feeling only having two weeks’ notice but I’m excited for the opportunity and the challenge.”

Fellow Aussie Olympic runner Izzi Batt-Doyle, who missed out on marathon selection but will still compete on the track in the 5000m, said it was bittersweet news, as a friend of both men.

“Go Andy!! Devastated for Brett but such a deserving athlete and person to take the spot,” she wrote.

Buchanan joins the team in good form, having won the Gold Coast half marathon just under three weeks ago.

He ran a time of 2:08.58 in Hamburg earlier this year, just outside the Olympic qualification standard of 2:08.10, but is eligible to run for Australia through ranking points.