Two-time Australian Olympian Peter Bol has announced he and his fiancee Mahtut Yaynu are expecting their first child.
Bol posted a photo with his pregnant partner on Friday night to share the news.
The photo appears to be taken at a baby shower.
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“Adding more love to our family,” the caption reads.
Bol came fourth in the 800m at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in a historic performance for Australia.
After a mentally taxing 18 months in the lead-up to Paris 2024 — during which he was falsely suspended for doping — Bol failed to make it into the 800m semi-finals at this year’s Olympics.
Channel 7 AFL commentator Abbey Holmes was among the hundreds to wish the happy couple congratulations.
“Omg YES!!! Best news ever 😍❤️ congrats guys xx,” she wrote.
Bol’s fellow middle-distance runner Cameron Myers said “congrats brother”.
Olympic boxer Harry Garside added: “Best news I’ve seen all month”.
Australian sprinting prodigy Gout Gout, tennis star Thanasi Kokkinakis, and AFL players Mac Andrew and Buku Khamis also celebrated the news in the comments.
Bol’s long-time coach Justin Rinaldi broke down in tears after the runner’s Olympic campaign ended.
He finished seventh in his first heat before running fourth in the repechage with a time of 1:46.12.
It was a far cry from the brilliant performance in Tokyo in 2021 when he won his semi-final with a then Australian record of 1:44.11.
But his world was turned upside down in January last year when he was hit with a provisional suspension for testing positive to the banned substance EPO.
The ban was eventually lifted the following month, but it wasn’t until August when he was officially cleared by Sports Integrity Australia.
Bol was never able to recapture his best form ahead of Paris and coach Rinaldi admitted the past two years had taken its toll.
“It’s hard,” Rinaldi told Nine in August before pausing to fight back tears.
“I wouldn’t want anyone to go through that. We did nothing wrong. It’s hard.”
Asked if Bol knew the Australian public had his support, Rinaldi said: “He does”.
“Through this whole process there was lots of terrible comments about him, but most of the comments were amazing and we really appreciate all the support he got,” he said.
“It helped him get to this point here today, because without the support, we wouldn’t be here for sure.”