Australia’s much-loved marathon-man Liam Adams is not giving up hope of heading to this year’s Olympic Games after recently learning — under crushing circumstances — that he had missed the cut.

Adams, the unassuming ‘sparky’ marathon runner who endeared himself to the nation with a gutsy 24th placing in the last Olympics in Tokyo, had thought that he had made the grade with his world ranking inside the 80-runner field.

However, a World Athletics committee decided to push other runners up the order who have a worse time and ranking, leaving Adams “shocked” and out in the cold.

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The committee has the discretionary power to do this under what it calls “universality places” — and it uses that power so athletes from “under-represented” countries can compete.

But that is cold comfort to Adams and some other athletes who have also missed out.

Not only that, Adams — who at 37 years of age would have been competing in his final Olympics — learned of the heartbreaking decision after the final date of qualification.

Speaking on the ABC, Adams said he “was in complete shock”.

“What ended up happening was I finished the qualification period in 74th position out of the 80,” Adams said.

“Through everything that I had read, through everything that Athletics Australia had read and even the other nations, we were all under the impression that you finished in the top 80 and you’d be going to the Olympics.

“When I found out the news three days after the qualification period had ended that … the universality athletes would displace the 10 athletes that had qualified in rankings, it was a complete shock.

“I felt like it was a nightmare and just wondering how it all happened.”

Adams said he understood why they wanted to increase the diversity of participating nations across the Olympic program.

But believed those runners could be simply added to the field of 80 without having to cut runners who had a better ranking.

“If push comes to shove, and the whole issue is the amount of beds in the village, well, I’m very happy to pay for my own hotel room if it means I can get on that start line,” he said.

A petition has now been started to help Adams and the nine other “deserving” runners who were also bumped out, to get back in.

“We call on World Athletics to reconsider the recent decision to replace 10 deserving athletes, who qualified through the world rankings, with universality athletes for the upcoming Paris Olympics marathon,” the petition says.

“The universality places should have been granted in ADDITION to the athletes who qualified through the standard route.

“This move, made at the 11th hour, has not only undermined the efforts and aspirations of these athletes but also compromised the principles of fairness and transparency in the athletics community.”

When hearing the news, fans were also in disbelief and felt for Adams.

“It’s hard to understand why the governing bodies treat their most loyal athletes like this. It’s no wonder they just leave disheartened and go to other sports,” one fan said on Instagram.

“Utter b******* — poor Liam. Dealt a s*** hand. Hopefully it can be sorted. Let the sparky run,” another wrote.

Another fumed: “He got robbed big time! They moved the goalposts last minute… devastated for him!.

And another: “The politics involved in sport is appalling. How this can be fair and equitable, is beyond me. People work towards representing their country for years. Sacrifices are made, it takes a whole family, village, community, employers to get athletes to the Olympics. To then lose your place in this way, there are no words. Sign the petition.”