Sonia O'Sullivan was forced to make a quick exit from her Australian training camp in Falls Creek, Victoria, because of nearby bushfires.
O'Sullivan was joined in the evacuation of the scenic mountain venue last night by several other athletes - including Australian 5000 metres record holder Benita Johnson - preparing at altitude before the IAAF World Indoors and Cross Country Championships in March.
Nic Bideau, O'Sullivan's partner and coach, said: "We are evacuating our altitude training camp in Falls Creek because of the threat of bushfires.
"The village is covered in smoke, the road to the trails where we train is closed and the fire is only 20 kilometres away, with the forecast for winds that will increase the danger to us".
Bideau, who also trains Johnson, added: "Sonia had been training well and Benita is going particularly well - but not that well they could outrun a raging bushfire if it comes this way".