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.
Adam Ondra
Do you find some positive side of this situation or just negative?
For me it is just one more year to get even better especially in the disciplines, which are not my strongest part such as speed climbing and certain aspects of bouldering. It could be maybe harder mentally because I will be forced to keep doing something that might not really enjoy that much, like speed climbing. But overall if I will keep the mental attitude just right I think it’s mostly positive. I think, if the Olympics wasn’t postponed it will be mostly negative consequences. It would not be fair. And from certain point of view I will actually get outdoors hopefully sooner than August 2020 which would be the Olympics. And if the Olympics were on for 2020 I would definitely not touch any rock before that. But if the coronavirus allows I might touch some rock actually even sooner.
How will you use the additional time before the Olympics? How will you correct your training plan?
Definitely my plans will change a lot. At the moment it is really hard to make any plans because we don’t know what we will be allowed to do in the next month, in the next three month. We don’t know if there is going to be any competitions at all this year. And what I found out very positive in last 2-3 months is that it is actually possible to combine speed climbing, certain exercises that improves both my speed climbing and bouldering while at the same time maintaining a really good shape in lead climbing. So I think I’m gonna to combine training a little bit of everything and than making short trips for some rockclimbing.
Kyra Condie
Do you find some positive side of this situation or just negative?
I think I see the positive!! I get more time to train and be excited for the games for longer.
How will you use the additional time before the Olympics? How will you correct your training plan?
Definitely going to take the time to focus on my weaknesses and try to stay healthy in all ways, especially injury free.
Sean McColl
Do you find some positive side of this situation or just negative?
There is positive sides in everything, it’s all about perspective. Being a competitor is a lot about adapting, this is no different.
How will you use the additional time before the Olympics? Maybe you'll make a trip to some rocks? I think it’s premature to plan those types of trips with the current pandemic at hand.
Photos by Eddie Fowke for IFSC