THE BIG QUESTIONS

I’ve just been provisionally selected for my second Olympic team but rather than being met with messages of congratulations, I’ve been inundated with questions about how the coronavirus will affect the Games.

Will the Games be cancelled? The International Olympic Committee is working with relevant authorities and is fully committed to the successful running of the Olympics. This means for now it’s business as usual so that when I get on that start line I can represent Australia to the best of my ability.

Are you worried?

Of course, but I know that panicking will not have a positive impact on the COVID19 pandemic, nor will it help me get faster in a kayak. So rather than get caught up in the hysteria, I am focusing on controlling the controllables. This is something I have been taught to do as an athlete, no matter the circumstance.

Has your training been affected at all?

While we have implemented various measures around hygiene and distancing, we are still training as usual. Plans will undoubtedly change as we navigate this pandemic but we are focusing on the positives and how we’ll respond to this time of adversity better than our competitors. I have complete trust in my team and the advice being given by our government and various international organisations and I know that panicking won’t make anything better. So rather than focusing on the “what ifs” I am doing what I can to help “flatten the curve” while remaining committed to representing Australia to the best of my ability at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.