Cat McArthur went from elation to devastation after the 2020 Olympics were postponed and she had to decide within an hour whether to travel home

One afternoon is all it took for Gold Coast-based kayaker Cat McArthur to experience the full spectrum of Olympic emotions.

ONE afternoon is all it took for Gold Coast-based kayaker Cat McArthur to experience the full spectrum of Olympic emotions.

The South Australian moved to the Coast in 2017 to pursue her Olympic dream and was told last month that she’d secured a much sought after spot on the Team Australia for kayaking.

But she couldn’t tell a soul.

SECRET LIVES OF GOLD COAST’S BIGGEST ATHLETES REVEALED

McArthur had just returned from the Canoe Sprint Championships and had been informed of her place on the team on Tuesday March 10 but with uncertainty surrounding the 2020 Games, she was under strict instruction to keep the news under wraps.

Gold Coast based paddler Cat McArthur in action. Pic: Paddle Australia

The following Monday, the Australian Olympic Committee announced Team Australia would be pulling out of the Tokyo Olympics, whether they went ahead or not.

What followed was hours of panic as McArthur grappled with whether to stay in Queensland or return home to be with her family.

FITZSIMMONS QUEST FOR TOKYO REDEMPTION

“I remember going to work, and as a physio, I was with clients all day and didn’t have the chance to check my phone until after work and I had several missed calls from coaches and our high-performance team,” McArthur said.

“If I wanted to go home to Adelaide, I basically had to decide within the hour because boarders were closing.

“I moved here to make the Olympics and now there weren’t going to be a 2020 games so it was a rollercoaster of emotions and one of my lowest days.

“I decided not to go back home because my patients rely on me and I love my job but I honestly wasn’t sure at the time if it was the right thing to do.”

Brianna Massie and Cat McArthur in action at the Oceania Association's Canoe Sprint Continental Championships at Sydney International Regatta Centre (SIRC) in Penrith on Friday.

Suddenly the 27-year-old found herself in an unimaginable position.

McArthur had qualified for her first Olympic Games, she hadn’t told anyone, and now she was uncertain whether she’d retain her spot on the team or be forced to requalify the following year.

“I called my mum crying like ‘I made my first team but no one even knows!’” she said.

“I had this list of family and friends who I’d call and phone calls I’d dreamt about making.”

Finally after an agonising 17-day wait, the Tokyo Olympics were postponed and Paddle Australia announced their selected team, confirming that all qualified athletes would retain their spot.

THE HILARIOUS BET WHICH SET TAME ON PATH TO TOKYO

“The Games getting postponed was a massive relief because it meant that we weren’t going to miss out,” McArthur said.

“That was probably the best day of my life, getting officially named on the team and getting our giant boarding passes for the flight to Tokyo.

“I moved to the Gold Coast with the goal of making the team and I guess I’ll have to wait another 12 months to finally see that through.

“I’m a bit impatient because I’ve waited such a long time for this year but I know the excitement and motivation will build pretty quickly.”

Gold Coast Olympic kayaker Cat McArthur celebrates her Tokyo Games selection. Picture: SUPPLIED

Now McArthur has combined with Australian teammate and flatmate Aly Bull to train together in isolation in anticipation of reuniting with their teammates at Pizzey Park later this year.

CITIZENSHIP TEST VS TRAINING: OLYMPIAN’S SURPRISING BALANCING ACT

“We both have our careers (Bull works as a firefighter) so if we didn’t live together, we wouldn’t see each other,” she said.

“We’ve done up a training program for each week but it makes it so much easier and keeps me motivated because we’re a household and can train together.”