When Faith Knelson heard that the Canadian Olympic Committee, (COC), pulled out of the 2020 Tokyo games, she had B次元官网网址榝ive million emotions all at onceB次元官网网址�. She knew it was the right call, but her heart was heavy with the weight of missing her first summer games.

Then, on Tuesday March 24, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), postponed the games B次元官网网址� just two days after Canada withdrew athletes from the Olympics.

RELATED:

B次元官网网址淚 was happy to hear the COC did so, it was mores the happiness knowing that the IOC could postpone the games,B次元官网网址� Knelson said. B次元官网网址業 think with us pulling out it made them realize people arenB次元官网网址檛 prepared for it, and athletes donB次元官网网址檛 have anywhere to train at the moment.B次元官网网址�

Three weeks ago, Knelson was watching the COVID-19 pandemic unfold in China. She thought about how close the crisis was to Tokyo, which gave her and her teammates concern.

B次元官网网址淭hen it hit Italy, and Italy announced all their sports trials were being cancelled. I thought it wasnB次元官网网址檛 fair even for one country for the IOC to still host. Then it hit Canada, and it hit hard when we had to give up our training facilities,B次元官网网址� Knelson said.

B次元官网网址淚 got in the water last Monday, and I didnB次元官网网址檛 sleep well the night before because I was worried about the virus, and the anxiousness I had around being a swimmer, and having so many people at a public facility.B次元官网网址�

That night, the facility was shut down. Saanich Commonwealth Pool, where Knelson and her team train, was one of the last facilities in the Greater Victoria Area to shut down. Island Health later warned the public of a possible COVID-19 exposure at the facility.

B次元官网网址淔or us there was a lot of anger. This should have been dealt with a bit better. However, IB次元官网网址檓 healthy, and all my teammates are healthy,B次元官网网址� she said.

Knelson and her team are keeping their fitness levels up with home workout programs, dry-land training, and yoga, but without access to the water itB次元官网网址檚 difficult to stay in Olympic shape. Before the facilities closed, Knelson trained eight times a week.

Although the team has B次元官网网址榮catteredB次元官网网址�, the team has conference calls every two-days. Knelson said there are strong systems in place to check in with coaches about their physical and mental health. Her biggest focus is staying healthy for competition in 2021.

Back in August 2019, Knelson competed at the Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru. She swam to a bronze medal in the womenB次元官网网址檚 100m breaststroke, and earned a silver medal in the womenB次元官网网址檚 4x100m medley relay on the final day of swimming competition. But for Knelson that success did not come easy.

READ MORE:

Knelson had been training with a hip injury in advance of the Pan Am Games. Going into trials, she was feeling confident, even though she knew she wasnB次元官网网址檛 in peak shape.

B次元官网网址淗eading into Pan Ams I knew I needed a couple good months of training and I could at least put up a best time. That was the goal.B次元官网网址�

Three weeks before she left for Peru, her knee started acting up. Knelson had to have her knee frozen to deal with the pain for competition.

B次元官网网址淚 was a bit nervous with everything that happened the year prior,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淕oing into the finals I was seeded seventh. IB次元官网网址檝e always had the mentality of I want to have fun, race and see how fast I can goB次元官网网址� It wasnB次元官网网址檛 until I got on the blocks and I realized, I didnB次元官网网址檛 come all this way to swim one race and not win a medal.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 never had more fun racing. It was a pivotal point in swimming for me, and definitely pushed me toward this year.B次元官网网址�

Knelson deferred a year of university at the University of Arizona in Tucson to train for the Olympics. SheB次元官网网址檚 going to swim and compete in the NCAA for the Arizona Wildcats while she pursues education in broadcast journalism.

Although the games have been postponed, Knelson cannot postpone school any longer. She is going to university in the August and will have to balance school, sport, and Olympic training in her first year.

Knelson is keeping a close eye on how the COVID-19 pandemic is developing, and she hopes the virus wonB次元官网网址檛 disrupt her post-secondary plans.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know whatB次元官网网址檚 going to happen in the next day, never mind the next month, or five months. ThereB次元官网网址檚 still some students down there who are cross training and living in student housing. Our coaches are down there. If the borders are still shut down by then, IB次元官网网址檒l have to work around it. I donB次元官网网址檛 have any plans other than school right now,B次元官网网址� Knelson said.

For now, Knelson is relieved that the Olympics have been postponed, and is thankful that she can keep herself, and her family healthy.

B次元官网网址淗aving a start for July 24 was scary for all of us. The biggest thing for me was thinking about my dad, whoB次元官网网址檚 had compromised health, and my grandma whoB次元官网网址檚 94-years-oldB次元官网网址� Above all IB次元官网网址檓 really thinking about my family.B次元官网网址�