Tokyo Olympics delayed a year
In a postponement that seemed inevitable, the Tokyo Games were pushed back a year
Decision that seemed inevitable finally comes, leaving athletes “disappointed and relieved at the same time.”
Word finally came down Tuesday: The Tokyo Olympics are officially postponed.
“It seemed inevitable,” said Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, slated to be an assistant on the men’s USA Basketball team whenever these Olympics actually take place. Inevitable. Mandatory. Yet, still heartbreaking. The news was issued in a joint statement from the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo Organizing Committee: The Olympic and Paralympic games “must be rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021, to safeguard the health of the athletes, everybody involved in the Olympic Games and the international community.”
“Disappointed and relieved at the same time,” threetime Olympian and former Cal swimmer Nathan Adrian said via text. “The disappointment is pretty selfexplanatory. But relieved because we can focus on what really matters right now instead of figuring out ways to train.” “At least there’s clarity,” said San Franciscobased Greg Massialas, USA Fencing coach and father of Olympian Alexander Massialas.
Those emotions were echoed around the Olympic world. Clarity. Relief. Disappointment.
And perspective about what is really important.
Fivetime gold medalist and former Stanford swimmer Katie Ledecky tweeted: “As we stand together to meet today’s challenges, we can dream about a wonderful Olympics in a beautiful country. Now is the time to support all those working to heal the sick and keep us all healthy.”
Maggie Steffens, a twotime gold medalist in water polo, Stanford alum and Danville native, tweeted: “@TeamUSA will rise to this challenge, with resilience and inspiration, together as one. And the world as one. Grateful for all those who are keeping this world safe and healthy, you let this dream live on in 2021.”
The decision upends the hopes and dreams of countless athletes, not to mention their lives. Lives that have been meticulously scheduled, week by week, hour by hour, to peak athletically this summer. Now all schedules must be revamped, all hopes recalibrated, all dreams deferred.
Alexander Massialas already qualified for Tokyo. His sister Sabrina still hopes to qualify — but when the next qualifying tournaments take place will be anyone’s guess. They are sheltering in place in their San Francisco home. Alexander has done workouts in his backyard and hill sprints in front of the house.
“My trainer has sent me a list of exercises,” he said.
It’s not ideal. No matter what the sport.
“As facilities have shut down, I can’t imagine anyone can prepare,” Kerr said. “I can’t imagine trying to train for the Olympics on your living room floor.”
Kerr, sheltering with his family in San Diego, hasn’t taken the pulse of his players who had Olympic aspirations, such as Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and rehabilitating Klay Thompson. Kerr feels bad for his friend Gregg Popovich, the USA Basketball head coach.
“I know he’s put so much time and effort and has looked so forward to this,” Kerr said. “As have all the athletes around the world, competing to get ready. But it’s all a matter of perspective.”
But everyone understands that this disruption from the coronavirus pandemic is unlike anything the Olympic movement, or the world at large, has faced in the past.
“I’m disappointed,” Alexander Massialas said, “but these are unprecedented times that call for unprecedented measures.”
His teammate, Gerek Meinhardt, also qualified for Tokyo. But, according to Greg Massialas, Meinhardt has been accepted to University of Kentucky medical school for the fall and now must choose either to continue to train or postpone medical school.
Will athletes who already have qualified, like Meinhardt and Alexander Massialas, have their slots protected?
“I personally think that I went out there this season and proved myself,” Alexander Massialas said. “It would be really hard to see it all thrown out the window.”
His father, the coach, doesn’t think that will happen. How the rest of qualification proceeds remains to be seen. Most of the American team had yet to qualify for the Games.
“Everyone’s individual circumstances will change, based on the delay,” Kerr said. “Positively and negatively. Injured guys getting healthy, older athletes getting older, young guys taking a leap. We know how much rosters change from one year to the next.”
Adrian, 31, was hoping to make his fourth Olympics, after a comeback from testicular cancer. He’ll be one year older fighting for a slot with younger swimmers.
Hammer thrower Kibwé Johnson, who was born in San Francisco, posted poignant words on his Instagram page, with a disclaimer that it is not a retirement post. A twotime Olympian, the 38yearold isn’t sure what another year will mean to him. Johnson can’t be certain he’ll be competing in 2021.
“So many feelings,” he wrote. “I love this sport. I came back fully expecting to contend for one of the three available spots on the #HardestTeamtoMake in 2020 …
“The greater good far outweighs mine, or anyone else’s, personal agenda. With that, I stand fully behind postponement of the Games.” Inevitable. Mandatory. And so heartbreaking.