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CLIMBERS ABOUT TOKYO 2021 - PART II

This year in Tokyo climbers should have been Olympians for the first time. SKALOLAZ.PRO asked climbers, who have already passed qualification for the Olympics, what do they think about postponement of Tokyo 2020.


Rishat Khaibullin


Do you find some positive side of this situation or just negative?

As for me the postponement of the Olympics is not negative occasion. I absolutely agree with MOC decision about it. It would be unfair to many athletes who cannot train normally due to coronavirus quarantine to spend Olympics this summer.


How will you use the additional time before the Olympics? How will you correct your training plan?

Well, I'll try to use properly the additional time before the Olympics. I know what I can improve as a climber and I will work on it.


Jakob Schubert


Do you find some positive side of this situation or just negative?

The Olympic Games in Tokyo are postponed to next year. Although the news are not unexpected I‘m quite disappointed nevertheless. I was ready to give my all this summer and felt on the perfect track to do so. But the circumstances are dramatic and I fully support the IOC‘s decision, the Games wouldn’t have been very fair this summer and who knows if they would have been safe.


How will you use the additional time before the Olympics? How will you correct your training plan? My focus will switch to World Cups for this season and I guess there will be more time for rock climbing as well. 


Nathaniel Coleman


Do you find some positive side of this situation or just negative?

I think the positive side is twofold: athletes of all sports will have a much easier and less stressful training period before competing, and it shows that the IOC is valuing the health of humanity over monetary gain.


How will you use the additional time before the Olympics? How will you correct your training plan?

I'm excited because I'll have enough time to focus on outdoor climbing this fall. This fall is something I've been looking forward to for a long time because I was planning to be done with this huge event and stress free. It will be a little different than planned since the Olympics will still be in the future, but I hope I can put that in the back of my mind until the new year of 2021.


Photos by IFSC.

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