When Kyle Chalmers, the Olympic swimming champion, concluded his realization that he was the last, before the break because of public isolation measures to combat the coronavirus, it filled his feelings with sadness and fear of what would happen.
It is difficult for fear reaching the 21-year-old Australian swimmer, who has undergone two heart surgeries, since winning the 100m freestyle in the Rio Olympics and loves crocodiles and snakes.
Despite the need for some time, to understand the fact that the dream of defending the Olympic title in Tokyo was postponed for 12 months, the probable departure from the pool for about half a year, made those feelings reach his heart.
“My biggest fear was being unable to do the thing I love, which is swimming, and if I can’t do it for six months, I will feel very uncomfortable,” Chalmers said by telephone from South Australia.
“I love to train and I like to train … I think I love to train more than I love racing.”
“Ambiguity remains a challenge, especially for athletes, who have plans from waking up to the last minute before bed.”
“This is the reason everyone is afraid, especially me, which is getting out of this routine, and just trying to think about how to spend this time now.”
* Shock phase