Many of Canada’s top swimming stars are remaining hopeful and confident in the face of the news Friday that the global outbreak of COVID-19 has postponed Canadian Olympic Trials.
Part of the message tweeted by Brent Hayden, the three-time Olympian who is making a comeback at age 36, is that, “Things unexpected happen. Looking at the greater good, but my goals haven’t changed. Just need to restrategize.”
Obviously pretty devastated but was prepared for today’s decision. Life throws curve balls. Things unexpected happen. Looking at the greater good, but my goals haven’t changed. Just need to restrategize. #COVID2019#roadtotokyo #risethroughchallenge https://t.co/DeJ4Or2izx
— Brent Hayden OLY (@thebrenthayden) March 13, 2020
It’s a familiar message, with many athletes waiting at the ready for Trials when and if they happen.
Trials were scheduled for May 30-April 5 in Toronto but will not go on as scheduled, among other event changes, due to the coronavirus outbreak that has led to more than 100,000 cases worldwide. As of Friday afternoon, Canada reported 176 confirmed cases and three probable cases in seven provinces, but in one of the highest-profile cases in the world, Sophie Trudeau, wife of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, tested positive for the virus.
That gravity was not lost on swimmers like Sydney Pickrem and Kayla Sanchez, who lamented the postponement but vowed to be ready for the event.
For some, like the University of Michigan’s Maggie MacNeil, the postponement of Canadian Olympic Trials is a double-whammy with the cancellation of the NCAA Championships.
Extraordinary Events In Swimming History:
Australia, China, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Italy, France, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Brazil and Japan have all had major meets affected by the coronavirus pandemic, while in the United States, the NCAA Championships have been cancelled and USA Swimming has imposed a 30-day suspension on all events, while Canada is considering what to do about its Olympic trials early next month. In Italy, where swimmers are struggling to maintain normal routines, can’t get to practice and in some cases find pool time, a #stopolympics campaign was launched by the Nuoto website calling on solidarity among swimming nations to recognise that Olympic preparations have been blown off course and that it would be in the interests of fairness to postpone the Games for a time of calm beyond the coronavirus crisis.
Our coverage:
- Dutch Olympic-Qualifier Swim Cups Cancelled In Coronavirus Lockdown
- The Soak – Swim Ireland Announces Postponement Of Olympic Trials Until End Of June
- Swimming Australia Cancels Australian Championships And Age Nationals to Combat Coronaavirus
- Swimming Canada Officially Postpones Canadian Olympic Trials, Paralympic Trials
- Spanish Swimming Nationals And Olympic Trials Latest In Wave Of Coronavirus Cancellations
- NCAA Cancels Winter Championships, Including Swimming And Diving
- USA Swimming to Cancel All Events For 30 Days Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic
- France Cancels Junior Nationals On Extraordinary Day In Swim History Ahead of Crunch Decision On Olympic Trials
- Scandinavian Swimming Shutdown: Danish Open, Olympic Trials, Swim Open Stockholm Off; Pools Shut & Norway Bans All Sport Events In Coronavirus Lockdown
- FINA Confirms Postponement of the Men’s Olympic Water Polo Qualifier in Rotterdam
- FINA Cancels/ Postpones Swathe Of Aquatic Events Due To Coronavirus Pandemic, Some Decisions Pending
- Peaty, Anderson & Co Set For Edinburgh Against The Backdrop Of Coronavirus
- Italian Struggle To Find Swimming Pools To Train In Sparks #stopolympics Coronavirus Lockdown Campaign
- The Soak – WADA Warns Of Unintended Consequences As Rodchenkov Act On Whistleblowing Takes Step Closer To Becoming U.S. Law
- British Olympic Association & Athletes Reach Agreement Over IOC Rule
- WHO Set To Give ‘Basic Thoughts’ On Olympics & Coronavirus As Unrepentant Tokyo 2020 Board Member Sounds “Warning Bell”
- NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships Now Closed to Spectators
- COVID-19 Leads Argentina to Cancel South American Championships
- Ivy League To Cancel All Athletic Events Through Remainder Of Spring
- Coronavirus Causes China Olympic Swimming Trials Postponement
- Italy Cancels Olympic Swim Trials & Wave Of Other Aquatic Championships In Coronavirus Lockdown
Guidance on Water and Coronavirus
Always have a plan B, C, D…….. H, I J……
Amber Caron-Brezovski