Angus still on board as more trials loom
GEELONG- RAISED rower Angus Widdicombe says it’s “not a great feeling” having his Olympics dream snatched away but is using perspective to deal with disappointment.
Widdicombe, 25, will have to requalify for Australia’s men’s eight boat at Tokyo next year, and is trying to keep his motivation high for the delayed Games.
Widdicombe said it was a mental challenge to remain focused on his goals.
“If you had have asked me 12 months ago, I probably would have said the physical component is probably the hardest, but with what everyone is going through now, it’s definitely a big mental game,” Widdicombe said.
“You just try and keep yourself motivated … that’s definitely been a bit more of a challenge.
“You have times where you are really flat about it but, like I said, there are far bigger things going on in the world right now. You put it back into perspective pretty quickly.”
The Geelong College graduate is now based in Canberra, where he is continuing to train during the pandemic.
Olympic trials for selection will be held in February next year “if all goes to plan”.
“Anything can happen at trials,” he said.
“It’s a bit nerve-racking, it always is, but I guess you’ve just got to do it.
“You’ve got to prove you’re still fit, you’re still technically good enough and you want it. It’s a bit of a bummer getting selected … and getting it taken away was a bit of a rollercoaster but you’ve just got to do it.”
Widdicombe has fond memories of the 2000 Games, when his passion for the Olympics was stoked.
He would have been rowing in Tokyo about this time had the Games gone ahead.
“We were meant to be in Tokyo right now,” he said.
“We’ve come back to Canberra to train and we were meant to go to Rockhampton in a couple of weeks, just to do a bit of a training camp up there. That’s just been cancelled again.
“You just put it into perspective and remind yourself how lucky you are.
“I’m still getting funded and I’m still able to train.
“It’s a big change. You’re planning to do something, you put a lot of time and effort into it and it gets taken away from you. You can’t shy away from the fact it’s not a great feeling.
“There are a lot of other bigger things going on in the world right now. I guess that’s how you cope with it.”