Aurelie Rivard has learned to adapt to swimming with no fans in the stands to cheer her on.

The Paralympic star can dig deep within herself to find that pre-competitive adrenalin rush.

Organizers announced Monday that fans will be barred from the Tokyo Paralympics because of the global COVID-19 pandemic, just as they were from the recently completed Olympics.

Rivard isnB次元官网网址檛 fazed by the fact no fans will be on hand when she plunges into the shimmering water at the aquatic venue near Tokyo Bay. SheB次元官网网址檚 thrilled that after 18 long months with no meets B次元官网网址� period B次元官网网址� sheB次元官网网址檒l finally have swimmers in the lanes next to her.

B次元官网网址淎t first, it was bothering me, the thought of not having the adrenalin from the crowd,B次元官网网址� Rivard said. B次元官网网址淏ut at the same time, all year long, I had to try to step up without any sort of adrenalin from any exterior factors.

B次元官网网址淪o, weB次元官网网址檙e kind of used to it by now, and to be honest, just for me, having rivals next to me is a bonus and a good thing, because I havenB次元官网网址檛 had any for almost two years.B次元官网网址�

The 25-year-old from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., carried CanadaB次元官网网址檚 flag into the closing ceremonies after her triple gold medal performance at the Rio Paralympics five years ago. She also won a silver there, and silver as a 16-year-old at the 2012 London Paralympics.

Tokyo could be RivardB次元官网网址檚 final Paralympics. SheB次元官网网址檒l take a much-needed break after to determine her immediate future.

Since Rivard hasnB次元官网网址檛 competed since the pandemic began, she doesnB次元官网网址檛 know quite what to expect in Tokyo.

But watching the Olympics, which closed on Aug. 8, has filled her with hope. For the longest time, Rivard wondered if the Paralympics would even happen.

B次元官网网址淔or once I was really happy that the Paralympic Games were after the Olympic Games,B次元官网网址� Rivard said from a swim team camp in Vancouver before she flies to Tokyo on Tuesday. B次元官网网址淣obody knew what to expect. Especially for us, people were saying B次元官网网址榃ell, if thereB次元官网网址檚 one Games that is going to be cancelled, it will be the Paralympics. If something happens in the Olympic Games, theyB次元官网网址檙e going to cancel the Paralympics, thereB次元官网网址檚 not as much money put into it for TV, for example.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淪o, we were holding on by a thread all year.B次元官网网址�

Canadian athletes overcame months of COVID-19 obstacles to capture an impressive 24 medals at the Tokyo Olympics. CanadaB次元官网网址檚 swim team won six of them.

B次元官网网址淭o see that the Canadian swimmers really stepped up and delivered amazing performances despite the uncertainty is honestly just a small reassurance that we didnB次元官网网址檛 have all year, but we got it (from watching the Olympics),B次元官网网址� Rivard said. B次元官网网址淏etter late than never. It was definitely a boost of confidence B次元官网网址� like OK, well, they did it so we can do it too.B次元官网网址�

COVID-19 protocols and travel restrictions were tough on Canadian athletes. For a long time, Rivard had no access to training facilities. Her parentsB次元官网网址� backyard pool, she said, was too cold for the first few months of the pandemic. She had no weight-lifting equipment at home.

B次元官网网址�(The past 19 months) felt like five years to be honest,B次元官网网址� said Rivard, who was born with an underdeveloped left hand.

In a pre-Olympic season that stretched close to two years, when the pool in Quebec finally did open, ever-changing pandemic protocols prevented her from racing another swimmer. Her only races were against the clock.

B次元官网网址淚t was obviously hard because we didnB次元官网网址檛 know what was coming. We didnB次元官网网址檛 know if we would have a Games or not. We ended up having absolutely zero opportunities for racingB次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 had nothing else to do than train. So itB次元官网网址檚 just been very interesting, especially when an Olympic year is already so stressful, so to add all that on top of it is not something I would want to do again.B次元官网网址�

The Olympic swim trials in Toronto cancelled the Paralympic events to keep numbers down amid strict protocols, so Rivard was appointed to the Para team based on past performances.

She hasnB次元官网网址檛 set any medal goals for Tokyo, itB次元官网网址檚 too tough to gauge how her rivals have done in the pandemic. But the time goals sheB次元官网网址檚 set should see her climb the podium and perhaps break some world records.

SheB次元官网网址檚 made some changes to her swimming, and itB次元官网网址檚 not lost on her that her first chance to test them out in competition is the Paralympics.

B次元官网网址淭he biggest meet ever,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 have a buffer or anything.B次元官网网址�

CanadaB次元官网网址檚 strong Tokyo Olympic performances made for perfect timing for her confidence. RivardB次元官网网址檚 family has six TVs in their Quebec home, and she said every one was set to a different sport during the Olympics.

Her favourite performances were the gold medals won by Maggie Mac Neil (100-metre butterfly), Damian Warner (decathlon), Andre De Grasse (200 metres) and the womenB次元官网网址檚 soccer team.

Rivard, who spoke to reporters after recently signing a partnership with Wayne Gretzky Estates and their Pursue Greatness campaign, is uncertain about her post-Tokyo career. At the moment, Rivard, who recently completed her first year of law school, is not committing to the 2024 Paris Paralympics.

B次元官网网址淚 just want to take time and get out of the swimming world completely, see my friends that IB次元官网网址檝e been neglecting and see my family and travel if I can, and just try to see something different than the pool deck.B次元官网网址�

Rivard will swim in five individual races and one relay at the Paralympics, which run Aug. 24 to Sept. 5.

B次元官网网址擫ori Ewing, The Canadian Press