OUR ELLIE EYES 2021
AIREYS Inlet Olympic hopeful Ellie Pashley has vowed to forge ahead to Tokyo in 2021 after the 2020 Games were suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Pashley (pictured) had recorded qualifying times in the marathon and the 10,000m, but her Olympic dream is on hold.
The International Olympic Committee came under increasing pressure to postpone the event for the first time in its 124-year modern history when Australia and Canada withdrew from the 2020 Games, which were scheduled to start on July 24.
It is unclear when they will be held in 2021.
Pashley, 31, said she was preparing for the Games to be cancelled, but was still disappointed her dream had been dashed.
“Once races start happening again … we don’t know anything about requalifying or whether our times that we’ve already run will still stand,” Pashley said.
“We’ll probably find that out over the next few months … I assume they’ll just extend the period and I’ll hopefully do just a few races later in the year and try get a spot again.”
Pashley’s Olympic selection was set to be in May.
Running is one of the few sports where athletes can continue to train while meeting self-isolation guidelines during the coronavirus.
Pashley said she would continue to train in the hope of winning a place in the 2021 team.
“Once we know what’s happening with races then we’ll start to ramp it up again but there is no point trying to peak now because you can’t sustain that for too long,” she said.
“We can’t really train in groups or anything, so it’s a little more solo or maybe running with one other person, two other people, if you’re out in the bush separating yourselves a little bit.”
Meanwhile, star shot putter Marty Jackson has ruled himself out of the Paralympics but is unsure when the world championships will be held as the Tokyo Games have been postponed.
The world championships will also likely be delayed to accommodate the Tokyo decision.
“I’ve always trained so that whatever opportunity comes, I’m best prepared for it,” Jackson said.
“It’s obviously nice to have a set time frame and goal and something to work towards but I think if you’re always trying to continue to better yourself and improve, you’ll always be in the best position possible for whatever comes.”