Vanessa Wilson

BIOGRAPHY

Melbourne’s Vanessa Wilson started more structured training during COVID with the goal of just finishing the 2021 Melbourne Marathon. Four years later the now 43-year-old will make her Australian team debut at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.

Vanessa’s first athletics competition was on the track in 2017 where she achieved modest best times of 4:56 (1500m) and 10:52 (3000m). By the end of 2018 she had dipped under 20 minutes at her Parkrun.

In 2021, during COVID, under coach/husband Paul Wilson, Vanessa started formal training for the 2021 Melbourne Marathon. She ran 2:40.20 on debut. “I was in all kinds of pain,” she recalls after running in Melbourne. “But two weeks later I decided my big goal was to try and get to the start line of the Berlin Marathon – a race that I’ve always watched online and loved the atmosphere and course – it is iconic.”

Melbourne had kicked off a series of four marathons, over 14 months for Vanessa, all timed around 2:40 minutes on the Gold Coast, in Hanover and at Melbourne twice. Her very consistant career was also evident in 2022 clocking four consecutive 76-minute half marathon times.

Her first break through happened in her fifth career marathon in late 2023, when she ran a five-minute PB time of 2:34.36 in Berlin. Vanessa continued to make significant progress in 2024, 72:59 in the half marathon and two marathon runs of 2:31.45 in Hanover (April) and 2:28.34 in Berlin (Sept). The Berlin run was remarkable as she fell at the 2km mark, fracturing her wrist. The time had moved up to the #13 fastest Australian marathoner ever.

In May 2025 she was selected in the Australian team for the Tokyo World Championships. “I’m incredibly proud of the journey so far—what we’ve achieved already feels like a huge accomplishment. Anything from here on is truly a bonus.”

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Vanessa was an active kid and recalls being okay running. In her teens she was an AFL boundary umpire and from age 17 she taught Group Fitness classes in gyms. She has gone on to become a Primary school Physical Education teacher.

Aged 35, in 2017 she started jogging after the birth of her daughter Anja. Vanessa was pretty happy just hitting the gym but when she didn’t have any help with childcare, running with the baby jogger became ‘a thing!’. She joined Glenhuntly Athletics club and started competing on the track. A regular on the track competing over distances of 1500m and 3000m, it led to her targeting a marathon during COVID.

All her overseas races have been in Germany. From a family of teachers, they usually holiday in Germany and can speak German.

Vanessa has a passion for promoting women and girls at grassroots level in sport. She is actively involved in coaching and encouraging participation in all forms of physical activity.

Occupation: Primary Physical Education Teacher and Sport Coordinator…Education: Bachelor of Human Movement at Uni of Tasmania and Masters in Educational Leadership…Interesting facts: Awarded the Victorian Physical Education Teacher of the Year for Teaching Excellence. Pink, Pink, Pink! Pink is how her students identify Mrs Wilson – they know I love the colour pink and the sense of joy, calmness, warmth and comfort it brings. In our house we have the most beautiful pink room – which symbolises comfort, hope and positivity in our house… Biggest challenge faced: Time – having enough time is always my daily challenge – the juggle without any extra support…Memorable sporting achievement: Running 2:28 in the Berlin marathon after fracturing my wrist after being pushed by another athlete, and breaking the Women’s 40y Victorian 1500m record that has been around for many decades…Hero: I really admire mums who manage to balance family life, sport, and work. Their strength, resilience, and commitment are incredibly inspiring. To me, they’re the true heroes—quietly achieving so much and setting an example both on and off the track/road/court/gym/field…Most influential person in your career: My husband and coach – Paul. I would have never started running without his encouragement, I was pretty happy just hitting the gym but when we didn’t have any help with childcare, running with the baby jogger became ‘a thing!’…Advice to your young self: Try every sport you can. Each one builds different skills, challenges you in new ways, and teaches you more about yourself. You never know which sport might become your passion—or where it might take you. I encourage this in my daughter and the students I teach…Hobbies away from your sport: Speaking German, coaching, family time, visiting thrift stores, baking, promoting women and girls in sport, spending time with my daughter is what fills my heart the most – so together we create our own adventures whether it be travel, art, cooking, shopping or sport; coaching other runners and I really hope I can inspire other women out there to just give it a go….Sporting ambition: I’m incredibly proud of the journey so far—what we’ve achieved already feels like a huge accomplishment. Anything from here on is truly a bonus. That said, I’m still driven. I’ll continue to set meaningful goals, stay disciplined, and give my best each day to keep chasing them. For me, it’s about the process, the passion, and continuing to grow as an athlete.

@9 September 2025 david.tarbotton@athletics.org.au