SA Hockeyroo star and health care worker Jane Claxton says Olympic postponement is the right decision
An SA-born Hockeyroo star working in the health care sector amid COVID-19 says the pandemic must be taken seriously and postponing the Olympics is the right thing to do.
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Hockeyroo Jane Claxton is hungry for another crack at an Olympic a gold medal.
But working as a vocational rehabilitation occupational therapist, Claxton knows how important it is to take the COVID-19 pandemic seriously.
SA-born Claxton’s job, when she is not training with the Australian women’s hockey team, is to help people who have suffered an illness, injury or have a disability stay, return to and remain in work.
The 27-year-old was disappointed when, last month, the International Olympic Committee announced the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics to 2021 due to the coronavirus.
But she was also relieved, knowing it was the right decision.
“Obviously you train for four years for this moment so I guess it was hard to comprehend,” Claxton said.
“Going into an Olympic year, there’s a lot of hype and you start to get excited about what could be.
“Having already gone through and Olympic campaign you are just busting to get back to that same stage and improve on what happened last time.
“But being in the health care system I thought (postponing the Olympics) was the responsible decision.
“I was probably more exposed to how severe COVID-19 was going to get so I had already prepared myself unknowingly that this was going to be the case.
“We need to do our part in terms of stopping the spread.
“It was a relief … it was really irresponsible for us to think we were above it all and think the Olympics is more important than people’s health.”
Claxton, who lives in Perth where the Australian hockey training centre is based, says she is “fortunate” to still be working.
“Working for me is actually an outlet away.
“I enjoy going to work and helping others and having a focus outside of myself.
“Then when I turn up for hockey that’s my moment to focus on myself.
“Or when I go out for a run or do a workout, that’s my moment to focus on myself.
“I find if I am too insular and just focusing on hockey and myself, it actually burns me out more.
“Having the capacity to still work has actually helped me mentally and physically.”
Earning selection on the 2021 Australian Olympics team is, however, still very much a goal for Claxton.
The SA Fire star is coming up with innovative ways to keep fit with all gyms closed and the national Hockey One season postponed with no scheduled start date.
And Claxton said she could be even better prepared to help with the Hockeyroos’ bid go better than the quarter-final loss to New Zealand at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
“We have some form of gym equipment in our homes and we are lucky in that aspect.
“But a lot of it is going for a run or doing body weight workouts just to make sure you don’t lose fitness because that’s always the hardest thing to regain.
“I think this just gives us a rare second chance to fix or work on our weaknesses that were possibly holding us back or holding the team back.
“You now get an extra year to hopefully iron out all the crinkles and really be very prepared.”
Claxton, formally from Beulah Park, also said her Australian teammates were throwing plenty of quirky, fun ideas around to help keep in touch during social distancing and self isolation periods.
“A few girls (in the team) are avid bakers.
“They have been going on Instagram live and taking us on various cooking adventures. That’s been quite good and I think it’s actually made us more connected in the fact we do have to put that extra bit of effort in to make sure we are touching base with everyone each day or each week.
“We kind of take for granted seeing each other each day so now we are probably going to create better relationships out of having to put that extra bit of effort in.”