Genevieve LaCaze

Genevieve LaCaze, also known as Genevieve Gregson, was born on August 4, 1989, on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Her athletics journey began at a young age, falling in love with cross country running in primary school. She attended Tamborine Mountain State School and later John Paul College in Daisy Hill, Brisbane. After high school, LaCaze moved to the United States to study at the University of Florida on an athletic scholarship, where she majored in Social and Behavioral Sciences from 2009 to 2012. During her time at the University of Florida, she competed for the Florida Gators cross country and track and field teams in NCAA competitions, honing her skills in the 3000-metre steeplechase and 1500-metre events. Her collegiate career saw her achieve significant milestones, including a second-place finish in the 3000-metre steeplechase at the 2012 NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships.

LaCaze made her Olympic debut at the 2012 London Olympics, qualifying for the 3000-metre steeplechase. Her selection to the Australian Olympic team involved a notable turn of events, as she initially qualified two days after the official deadline. Public support and intervention from the Australian Olympic Committee President led to her inclusion, where she improved her personal best in the heats. Following a leg injury in 2013, she returned to Australia and trained with the Melbourne Track Club under coach Nic Bideau. This period marked a pivotal point in her career, leading to a strong performance at the 2014 Commonwealth Games where she finished fifth in the 3000-metre steeplechase with a personal best time. Her second Olympic appearance at the Rio 2016 Olympics was particularly successful, marked by a series of personal bests, placing ninth in the steeplechase and twelfth in the 5000-metres finals. She continued to achieve global recognition with a twelfth-place finish at the 2017 World Championships and a tenth-place finish at the 2019 World Championships. In late 2019, she expanded her range to the 10,000-metres, winning a national title.

Genevieve LaCaze competed in her third Olympic Games at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (held in 2021) in the 3000-metre steeplechase, where she suffered a severe Achilles tendon rupture during the final. Despite this career-altering injury, she embarked on an intensive rehabilitation program. Over the next two years, following the birth of her son in 2022, LaCaze transitioned her focus to road running, particularly the marathon. Her comeback culminated in impressive results, including winning national titles in the half-marathon, 12km, and cross-country events. She made her marathon debut in July 2023 at the Gold Coast, recording the second-fastest debut time by an Australian woman. In December 2023, she achieved a time of 2:23:08 at the Valencia Marathon, placing her third all-time for Australian women. She represented Australia in the marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, finishing 24th, further solidifying her remarkable career progression and resilience.