Disappointed swimmers getting support
AUSTRALIA’S elite swimmers are being urged to deal with their emotions before deciding their Olympic futures.
Swimming Australia head coach Jacco Verhaeren says athletes could take months to digest the disappointment of the likely postponement of the Tokyo Games.
Australia has pulled out of the Games, which are due to start on July 24, because of the coronavirus pandemic, believing the sporting showcase will be delayed until next year.
“We are focusing on providing immediate care for the ones who need it,” Verhaeren said yesterday. “But also longterm care because for some people reality will kick in, in a matter of weeks or months even.
“This is not going to be a quick fix ... any big decision about the future we would make now would be too emotional and would definitely be without enough knowledge.”
With the Federal Government banning indoor sports activities indefinitely, Verhaeren said it was as yet unknown what impact the halt of training would have on swimmers.
“Nobody is obviously pleased with the fact that the
Olympics can’t go on as planned – I think that is a normal response,” he said.
“Everybody understands that this decision had to be made given the situation we’re all in ... it’s the right thing to do.
“I think we have to wait and see a little bit.
“It will become emotional ... because people have seen their immediate goal suddenly disappear.
“In saying that, we definitely told the coaches and the athlete leaders that we’re potentially looking at a postponement for 12 months.”