Genevieve LaCaze’s stage-bombing exploits in Glasgow have exposed her to millions of people who didn’t previously know she existed. By tomorrow she will be forsaken by the cruelly fickle 24-hour news cycle. So, while the limelight shines brightest on the blonde steeplechaser/stage invader, we’d better learn everything we can.
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1. GENEVIEVE LACAZE IS SINGLE AND HUNTING FOR A BOYFRIEND/GIRLFRIEND
No, not true, bad luck. Genevieve has been going out with fellow athlete Ryan Gregson, from Wollongong, for the past two years, and the couple has been described as “inseparable”. And there's worse news for shy heterosexual men wondering how to catch the eye of such an attractive elite athlete. Gregson’s successful wooing strategy involved walking around LaCaze with his shirt off, asking her if she liked what she saw. Although there is hope: it took six years for LaCaze and Gregson to hook up after his initial, unsubtle one-liner.
2. GENEVIEVE LACAZE HAS A SECRET TRAINING GIMMICK WHICH CAN HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT, WIN FRIENDS AND GET LUCKY IN LOVE
No, she doesn’t. After breaking her ankle at the Birmingham Diamond League meet last winter, LaCaze had to undergo the same, grinding rehab as any mere mortal. Once finally out of her moon boot, LaCaze’s comeback plan included running on the AlterG anti-gravity treadmill at the Brisbane Broncos’ training base, and sweating it out at the Falls Creek distance running camp run by manager Nick Bideau. She says she didn’t know what hard work was until she had to recover from her injury.
3. GENEVIEVE LACAZE IS A LOCAL BATTLER WHO HAD NEVER JET-SETTED ANY FURTHER THAN DUBBO BEFORE THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES
Nope, the 24-year-old is native to Benowa on the Gold Coast, but she studied applied physiology and kinesiology at the University of Florida, and has "additional living locations" in California and Teddington in the UK, as well as her current base in Melbourne. Travelling runs in her family. “I was dirty at my Mum for heading off to Moscow to watch the World Track and Field Championship when I wasn’t competing,” Genevieve writes on her blog. “The whole family had booked to go watch me a few weeks before I broke my ankle but then couldn’t get refunds for the flights. Mum had a great time so the right thing to do was get over it and be happy she was able to enjoy herself.” Genevieve was looked after by her homebody grandparents whilst recuperating.
4. GENEVIEVE LACAZE IS GREAT MATES WITH CONTROVERSIAL SUSPENDED ATHLETICS COACH ERIC HOLLINGSWORTH.
Er, not so much.
In June 2012, when Hollingsworth was high-performance manager of Athletics Australia, Genevieve posted an Olympic A qualifying time for the 3000-metre steeplechase for the London Olympics, one day after the cut-off date.
Hollingsworth and Athletics Australia argued LaCaze should not be allowed a place in the Australian team. Australian Olympic Committee boss John Coates intervened, LaCaze secured her position in the team and she recorded a personal best despite missing the final. She also bettered her PB at Glasgow in running fifth, after taking up the running to the favoured Kenyan trio who eventually filled the medal placings.
5. GENEVIEVE LACAZE'S GOOD LOOKS HAVE BEEN IGNORED AND ALL MEDIA ATTENTION SHE HAS RECEIVED HAS FOCUSED ON HER EXPLOITS ON THE TRACK
As if. Anna Flanagan, Melissa Breen and Genevieve LaCaze were named in the gold, silver and bronze places for the "best looking female athletes at the Commonwealth Games" by FHM magazine. Britain’s Daily Mail exclaimed: “The Glasgow glamours have all been active on social media during the Scottish expedition and are earning adoring fans of the Games the world over.” FHM felt the trio would “melt Scotland”.
Perhaps the thaw had not been sufficient until LaCaze took to the dance floor.
