Middle distance athlete Olli Hoare finds himself surrounded by seven cameras in the interview area beneath the Stade de France. He clears his throat, requests a drink of water, and attempts to gather his thoughts. It’s a challenge, as he has just been eliminated from the 1500m repechage on Saturday, following a disappointing performance in the heats the day prior.
“My Instagram has been really tough to manage after that. It was a horrible race, and I faced a lot of criticism on Instagram, so I had to take it down,” Hoare shares. He pauses for a brief seven seconds, averting his gaze as emotions start to surface. “It feels terrible. I probably should have deleted Instagram before arriving in the Village, but I miss connecting with my friends.”
Similar to boxer Harry Garside, who faced his own defeat five days earlier, Hoare’s immediate emotions center on the disappointment of potentially letting others down. “I’m quite upset; I hope I haven’t let down my country or my family, though I’m really disappointed in myself,” he admits.
“As an athlete, you put yourself in these situations, and if you manage to progress, it seems easy. But when you mess up, it’s truly heartbreaking. I’ll need to deeply reevaluate my position as an athlete after this.”
One journalist attempts to comfort him, asserting that he is not a failure, and then encourages him to expand on his feelings. “I just lack confidence; I’ve run two 3:31s [this year], won a Diamond League event, yet I still feel unsure. I just don’t understand what’s happening.”
In the repechage— a last chance introduced in Paris for those who didn’t advance from the heats—Hoare started on the outside. He quickly moved into the top three on the first bend and appeared well-positioned. He surged toward pace setter Ryan Mphahlele in the final lap but was overtaken by competitors finishing fast, ultimately placing fifth, missing the cut-off by two spots.
When asked what kind of support he might seek to cope with the loss, Hoare’s mind drifts to the other side of the globe. “If my dog were here, he’d be the best support because he’s indifferent,” he says. “He doesn’t even know what I do. He probably thinks I’ve been gone forever because it’s been two months since I was home.”
The profile image on Hoare’s now deactivated Instagram account features him with his three-year-old dog, Angus. Despite this, he still faces negativity online. “They’re just direct messages,” Hoare reveals. “I even deleted some comments from a post that was just a photo of my girlfriend, and they were quite hurtful.”
The race marked the final opportunity for Australia’s highly regarded 1500m team—leading to the exclusion of well-regarded teenager Cameron Myers from the Paris lineup. The reactions from the trio were varied.
Stewart McSweyn, who finished second last in the first repechage, expressed his disappointment: “It’s incredibly disappointing. We three came in with high aspirations, and failing to meet those expectations—especially with Australia’s belief in us—feels like letting down those who had faith.”
Hoare was even harsher on himself: “I didn’t sleep well, but my body felt okay. I just lacked strength in the final 100 meters; I don’t think I was strong enough to qualify for the semi-final. I know I must improve, but I also need to let go of certain things and not take to heart every criticism, while remaining critical of my own performance.”
after newsletter promotion
Adam Spencer, the less experienced runner among the trio, finished just behind Hoare but maintained a more positive outlook. “I hold myself to high standards; I aim to place myself in a situation to make the final because anything can happen at that stage,” he states. “However, as long as I give my best effort and prepare thoroughly, I can’t ask for more.”
After his media duties, Hoare promptly met with a psychologist serving as a wellbeing manager. A representative from the AOC affirms that Hoare will receive support. “Experiencing loss is tough, and we’re all here to support Olli and others whose Olympic dreams haven’t come to fruition.”
Hoare understands that the negative comments from online users don’t reflect his journey, particularly when he couldn’t walk just a few months back in February. However, he acknowledges their impact on him. “I wish it didn’t affect me as much as it has, so I’ll take that insight into the future and remember if I have a poor performance or if things go awry, that potential backlash exists, and I need to firmly dismiss it.”
Angus will have to wait a bit longer for his 27-year-old companion. Hoare is focused on continuing his training until the Diamond League concludes in September. “I just need to improve and stay healthy,” he asserts. “I aim to compete in these upcoming Diamond League races to the best of my ability, proving to myself and everyone else that I’m truly a capable 1500m runner.”
