Elite athletes across the globe put in the work for 4 years for a chance to compete in front of a worldwide audience. For athletes in individual sports such as track and swimming that rely heavily on the Olympic cycle, will now have to wait another year to compete in the Olympics due to the Covid-19 Pandemics. So what does that mean for athletes that have been putting in the work to showcase their elite athleticism to the world? For some it may be a risk and others it may be just what they wanted.
This week I had the opportunity to chat with American Triple jump star Chris Carter, a 2x World Championship Finalist and 3x U.S. National Champion, about his recent training adjustments due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Chris gave me a little more insight on the postponement of competitions and meets for the rest of the 2020 season, and how it may impact his professional career moving forward.
Chris began long jumping at the age of 11 and fell in love with the sport ever since. He attended University of Houston where he improved his skills tremendously throughout his four eligibility years. It was right after his collegiate career ended when he first had the chance of representing the U.S. in a major competition though. In 2011, Carter qualified for the Pan American Games, in Guadalajara, Mexico, where he placed 6th overall in the triple jump, on his first international appearance.
Chris has been living and training in Houston in preparation for the 2021 Tokyo Track and Field Olympic Games Trials in Eugene, Oregon in June of 2021. According to the United States Track & Field federation, all the track meets that were scheduled for the rest of 2020 were either cancelled or postponed to 2021. The International Olympic Committee (IOC), also decided on March, 23rd that the 2020 Olympic Games would be postponed by one year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
For professional athletes around the world, the unexpected break seemed like a time of hopelessness with no practices being held nor important meets coming up. For Chris, the Olympic postponement didn’t seem to bring too many concerns. “My level of training improved because I was actually being able to train at appropriate times and get the proper rest that I needed. Physically it was a blessing in disguise for me because I was finally able to put more effort into my preparation,” says Chris.
As he continues to prepare following all the safety protocols, training both at home and at a local track, I asked him how he handled the break at first, and how he has been able to keep up with the slow progress and return to the tracks. “When I first heard about some of the possibilities that may come from the lockdown, I prayed that people would stay sane and not start treating it as if it were the end of the world,” says Chris.
Chris affirmed he has been preparing just as if he was to compete in the Olympic Trials next week. He feels blessed to have the support from his family and friends as well as from his sponsors and USA Track & Field Federation at this time. He also counts with a home gym and access to a dirt track, making the process less stressful for his continuous preparation. His positivity and trust in the process have been keeping him in check in training day in and day out. “The Tokyo Olympics, no matter the year, have always been the main reason behind my training and preparation, so all of the other goals just realigned to accommodate the postponement,” says Carter.
On his journey to the Tokyo Olympics, Chris seeks to prepare and be ready to compete at the highest level making sure his body is always properly fueled with great natural products. “My diet, hydration, rest & recovery, meditation, and consistency through the process are part of my goals to stay prepared and active going into the Olympic year. Products like Hydra-Guard Sports Drink have been helping me to take it to the next level and be prepared for my workouts, avoiding cramps and preparing me to perform at all times.”
If you support proper hydration during your workouts like Chris and myself, or like to practice sports and physical activities on a daily basis, Hydra-Guard Sports Drink is a great way of replenishing your essential electrolytes after a workout but keeping the calorie count low and consuming only 5g of natural sugars per bottle. Use JUMPCARTER10 for a special discount on your next purchase website.