Isobel Batt-Doyle's journey to Tokyo

Isobel Batt-Doyle’s path to the Olympic Games has been far from smooth sailing, but on Friday she will take her place in the 5000m heat at Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium in career best form. 

The 25-year-old South Australian entered 2020 with crippling foot injuries, and a running career on the brink, but her network of coaches and family helped her back to the track and to an Olympic debut. 

It wasn’t just her exhausted body in the way of Isobel making it to the Tokyo starting line, but also the Covid-19 pandemic which presented a lack of local opportunity to secure Olympic qualification. 

After missing the qualifying time by one second (running a 15:11 in March) Isobel believed her only path to the Olympics was an international move. 

She relocated to Europe in May where she has remained until she flew into Japan last week. 

“It has been a rollercoaster of a year,” she said. 

“I had a stress fracture in my calcaneus (foot) and was injured for a year so 2020 was about feeling good again and getting back into running. 

“By the end of 2020 I was having some good races, but nothing that indicated I was on track to make the Olympics... before everything clicked in March this year when I ran that 15:11 5000m. 

“As opportunities to race dried up in Australia I had to make the decision to head overseas to chase that qualifier, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to come home for three months regardless of whether I made the Olympics. 

“It was a big risk, it was scary and overwhelming at times, but I am super happy I went because in my first race in the Netherlands I ran a 15:04 which selected me for the Olympics.” 

After being left devastated as she crossed the line one second slower than the qualifying time, the Flinders Athletic Club product said it was elation as she glanced at the time which booked her ticket to Tokyo.

“In Melbourne, when I saw that I had run the 15:11 it was bittersweet because prior to the race I spoke with my coach and partner Riley Cocks about aiming to hit 15:20, so that indicated I was in good shape,” she said. 

“I was shocked because I never expected to get that close, but when I realised how close I was it was devastating because I was one second from being on the plane. 

“That gave me a lot of confidence and when I went to Europe I knew that I could run the qualifying time and when I did it was amazing. 

“I was overwhelmed and bawling my eyes out, which is funny after being so controlled, calm and confident during the race.” 

After a long road to Tokyo – racing and training in the UK, Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy and Finland since May – Isobel said it was a case of “laying low” and focussing on her physical and mental condition since arriving in Japan. 

She is aiming to make Monday’s 5000m final and break the 15-minute barrier. 

“I am feeling good, I am as fit as I’ve ever been, I feel strong, I am confident and am excited to run on Friday,” she said. 

“I know that when I get to the starting line I will need to remind myself that I belong there because I have earnt it. 

“I just want to run hard and come home knowing that I have given it my all.” 

Isobel said she had been leaning on experienced Australian athletes, three-time Olympian Genevieve Gregson and Australian 10,000m recordholder Stewart McSweyn to help her through the experience. 

She said the thought of being an Olympian had not completely sunk in until she moved into the Athletes Village on Monday. 

“When the Olympics first started I was in a hotel room in Japan and it still felt like I was watching from the outside as a viewer, but it really sunk in when I moved into the Village and received my Australian gear,” she said. 
“Given the past two years I am really proud of myself and how far I have come, considering I nearly quit running last year. 

“I think back to those hard moments when I was crippled and injured, and now I’m here, that’s special.” 

Riley – who coaches Isobel along with Nic Bideau – was proud that she could overcome injury and had the opportunity to call herself an Olympian. 

“Being back in Adelaide while Izzi’s been overseas I have made sure to watch all of her races,” he said. 

“It’s been lots of getting up in the middle of the night and changing time zones as she moves in and out of countries. 

“I am here to motivate and coach her but she is a real inspiration to me - when I go out on a run, I think about what it would have been like (qualifying and preparing for the Olympics) on her own, that’s a huge effort and I am so proud. 

“My advice to her is to keep performing the way she has all year because she has shown that she does belong at this level.” 

With her parents keen runners, athletics has always been a part of Isobel’s life, but she said her first foray into the sport came as an eight-year-old when she did what many younger sisters do – follow their older siblings out to Little Athletics. 

“I loved athletics from the start, it was outside, it was active and you could just try so many things,” she said. 

“I wasn’t too good at many disciplines to start with, but I stuck with it and here I am. 

“My family is so supportive and it is so special that Riley and my parents are still so involved in what I do.” 

She said Adelaide was the perfect place to kick start her running career. 

“Adelaide is a great place to run, it was a great foundation for my career and I have great memories running Fitzy’s 5 and the City Bay” she said.   

“I hope that I can run those events again soon.” 

By Josh Teakle