Daily Cover: Olympic Swimmers Like Kelsey Dahlia Have Had to Get Creative to Stay in Shape
While sports fans know the Tokyo Olympics have been postponed until 2021, they likely aren't aware of how that, coupled with the pandemic, has changed the day to day preparation for many athletes training for the games this Summer. And with access to swimming pools limited, many who take to the water for their sports have had to take unique measures to get back in it. Senior Writer Pat Forde joined Sports Illustrated host Robin Lundberg for more in today's Daily Cover.
Read the full video transcript:
Robin Lundburg: Obviously, we all know the Olympics were postponed due to the coronavirus. And while we think about the impact on the calendar, we don't necessarily think about the impact on the athlete. For more, I'm joined by our senior writer, Pat Forde. Now, Pat, you had a chance to actually speak to a swimmer who is adjusting to this without the ability to get in the water.
Pat Forde: Yes, several swimmers, in fact, and that's been the biggest thing is the of the pandemic has gone on. One of the things that has been shut down and stayed shut down for throughout much of the country are swimming pools and swimmers. From a training standpoint, there's not much other than swimming that really approximates what they do. You know, you can't go into a gym and shoot baskets like a basketball player. You can't run to stay in condition. You can do that. But it's just not going to be the same, in terms of what you get out of the sport that keeps you prepared and keeps you ready. And so, athletes in swimming have taken some pretty unusual means to try to find ways to find water.
Robin Lundburg: Do you have an example of some of the methods that they've used?
Pat Forde: Yeah. Kelsey Dahlia, 2016 Olympian. You can see her there in the nine-foot by 12-foot ipool working on her butterfly while restrained by these ropes. That's really that's all of us are only alternative at this point. That's in her backyard in southeastern Louisville, where she has been doing her training basically without going anywhere, swimming in place. I went up and watched the Indiana University pro group over the weekend. And Lily King, a two time Olympic gold medalist and world record holder, she is been training in a pond for part-time up there. So there's been a lot of various methods going on to try to find ways to stay in touch with swimming.
Robin Lundburg: Well, we'll see if those translate to the water when and hopefully, you know, the Olympics do resume next summer. Pat, appreciate your time, as always.
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