When Camille French crossed the line first in the women’s race at the 2026 Melbourne Marathon, the clock read 2:28:25. The story behind that number is what stopped a lot of us in our tracks. Camille is a 36 year old mum of two young daughters. Her youngest, Luella, was 11 months old on race day, and Camille was still breastfeeding her, which meant plenty of broken nights through her build.
Twenty four seconds behind her was Australian Olympian Sinéad Diver, who did not take up running until she was 33, after the birth of her first child. Sinéad ran the Tokyo Olympic marathon at 44 and finished 10th. In Melbourne she was 49 and still racing at the front of the field.
Two women, two very different paths, and one shared message: strong women do strong stuff, at every stage of life.
Rebuilding from one minute at a time
Camille has been open that the comeback was not quick or glamorous. She started running again eight weeks after her daughter was born, with one minute of jogging and one minute of walking. As she told Woman’s Day NZ, reported by Yahoo Lifestyle Australia, she “started a lot slower” because she “wasn’t as fit” after running less during her pregnancy. In April she got sick from trying to do too much. She adjusted, kept a strict routine, and made sure there was still time for fun with her girls.
“It takes a while to recover after having a baby.
Camille French, ABC Breakfast
Elite athletes have hard days too. The difference is that she kept the routine going and was willing to adjust when her body told her to. In her own words: “Obviously, there are days where you find it really challenging.”
She has also said she wants her daughters to see that they can do hard things if they set goals. That might be the best reason any of us has for lacing up.
It is never too late to start
Sinéad Diver’s story speaks to the many women in our squad who came to swim, bike and run later in life. She was a mum in her 30s with no running background when she started. A decade later she was an Olympian, and she became the oldest athlete to represent Australia in athletics at an Olympic Games.
“Starting late is not starting behind.
The Tri Alliance view
You do not need to be chasing an Olympic team for that to matter. Consistency, good coaching and patience can take you a very long way, whether your goal is your first sprint triathlon, a club time trial PB or finishing an Ironman.
The juggle is real, and so is the strength
Most of us are not training around a professional schedule. For many women, training has to fit around school drop offs, shift work, caring for parents, careers, menopause, injuries and everything else life throws at them. Getting to a 6am swim or a Saturday long ride can take more planning than the session itself.
That juggle is not a weakness in your training. It is part of what makes you strong. A few things that help:
Strong at every age
Our squad is lucky to include women who are still training and racing well into their later years, and they are some of the most inspiring athletes we coach. They keep showing up, keep learning and keep surprising themselves. Strength training, good technique and smart recovery become even more valuable as we age, and the benefits go well beyond race day: stronger bones, better balance, more energy and the confidence that comes from doing something hard.
Thinking about it? If you are a woman who has been thinking about your first triathlon, your first open water swim or getting back into training after a break, take this as your sign. You do not need to wait until life is less busy. It rarely is.
Here’s to the women
To the mums training around feeds and school runs, the women who started in their 40s or 50s, the athletes coming back from injury or illness, and everyone who fits their training into a full life: we see you, and we are proud to train alongside you.
Ready to build a plan that fits your life?
Have a chat with Ollie or any of our coaches at your next session.
Sources: World Track, Melbourne Marathon 2026 results; Yahoo Lifestyle Australia, citing ABC Breakfast and Woman’s Day NZ; Australian Olympic Committee, Sinéad Diver; Wikipedia, Sinéad Diver.
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