Training is an integral part of an elite athlete’s life. But the Coronavirus outbreak has spoiled the training schedules of hundredths of sportspersons who were bound for Tokyo Olympics. The pandemic eventually forced the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to reschedule the Summer Games to 2021. It was for the first time in the 124 year modern history of the Games that it has been delayed during peacetime.
The move has affected many athletes including the USA wrestler Sarah Hildebrandt. “It’s terrifying. This has obviously been my life for the last 17 or 18 years,” she told WSBT22 news daily.
“Everything has been put into this dream, I’ve sacrificed a lot, the people close to me have sacrificed a lot, so to have it taken away for something that I necessarily didn’t do wrong just felt so unfair.”
Luckily her dreams have just been delayed but not denied. In a sport like wrestling, an athlete needs to be at the peak of his physical condition throughout the year. A delay of a year can change the dynamics completely.
Hildebrandt who recently secured an Olympic spot for her country in 50kg women’s wrestling after a top-two finish at the Pan Am Olympic Qualifiers in Canada feels she will now have to take a step back and re-evaluate before making the next move.
“I feel like I was going to be my best self at Olympic team trials and was going to be an even better version at the Olympics, but this changes things.” said Hildebrandt via Facetime, “Luckily, I think I can get back there.”
Hildebrandt who has dealt with several injuries throughout her career his framing the postponement like she would an injury. An opportunity to rest, recharge and refocus.
“It’s like taking a step back and getting to that point where you really crave wrestling.” said Hildebrandt, “Taking time away can be healthy and very good and I think that is the silver lining of all this.”
But while Hildebrandt is unable to train at U.S. Olympic Training Center, she has decided to turn her garage into the mini-Colorado Spring. She has equipped her garage with weights, jump ropes, mats, Bulgarian Bags, anything to keep going to work.
“It was one of those moments where I feel like we’ll look back and laugh about how insane this is. ” said Hildebrandt in between stunned laughter, “I think we’ll look back and just remember the madness of it.”
While the situation is unprecedented, it has also provided Hildebrandt with a fresh frame of mind. A new view on what the sport and the opportunity to represent the United States means to her.
“These things can be taken away like that. and you need to make the most of the opportunities when you have them.” said Hildebrandt, “Those moments where you don’t want to do a hard workout become irrelevant when you know this could be your last time, so of course, I’m going to give it everything I have every second I have.”
