‘He’s seventh sexiest’: What Gold Coast Olympians are up to now
With no 2020 Tokyo Games yet, find out what our Olympians are doing now instead.
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LAST week the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games became COVID-19’s latest casualty with the International Olympic Committee announcing its postponement to 2021.
It’s the first time in the history of the Olympic Games.
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■ Fun fact: Even though they’ve postposed the Olympics to 2021, they will still be called Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Like so many people who have been impacted by this virus, I’ve experienced a flurry of emotions, but rather than dwell on the negatives I wanted to share some positivity.
Given our trials were held pre COVID-19 restrictions being put in place, our team was able to be selected and confirmed for the Tokyo Olympics, with the announcement taking place last Friday.
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It’s a team that I’m so privileged to be part of and a team I know you can be proud of.
With eight out of 14 of my teammates being based on the Gold Coast I’m going to spend the next year and a bit turning you into a super fan of each and every one of them.
Typically once the team is announced there’s only a few short months until racing begins but as we all well know, there’s nothing typical about what we’re going through right now.
Our training facility is closed, we can’t exercise with more than two people and we’re not entirely sure when normality will be restored. So what are my Gold Coast based teammates up to?
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When we can’t train properly, the alter egos of many get to finally shine bright.
So far no inspiring workout videos have been shared, however I’m tipping Riley Fitzsimmons will be one of the first to jump on this bandwagon. In 2016 he was voted the seventh sexiest male on the Australian Olympic Team, so he has a lot to live up to.
Jordan Wood, my husband, fancies himself as an excellent handyman however I haven’t yet witnessed him fully complete a project, so hopefully isolation will ensure this finally happens.
While she will now spend a lot of her week working as a firefighter, Aly Bull is a self-proclaimed master chef and with her trusty housemate and disshy, Cat McArthur, I’m sure they’ll be rife on the Instagram stories which will undoubtedly give us all food envy.
Speaking of Instagram, if you’re like me and live for cute dog posts, tune into Lachlan Tame’s stories featuring his slobbering best mate Doug. That dog lives like a king.
Then there’s Tom Green and Jean Van Der Westhuyzen, the two youngest on our team, who I bet will be perfecting their already amazing Nanna nap skills as we all bunker down.
But in all seriousness, as we navigate this unprecedented time our team will be using the next few weeks to chill out and help flatten the curve, before we hit the ground running in the lead up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, in 2021.
QUICK Q&A WITH JEAN VAN DER WESTHUYZEN
What are your thoughts on the postponement?
I don’t feel like I can be disappointed over the decision. It would selfish to put my own emotions over the health and safety over so many people suffering due to the virus. I fully back the call, it’s the right thing to do.
How will this directly impact you and your training?
It has most definitely had a negative impact on my training, however it has on every other athlete too. At the moment I am just trying to stay as fit as I can with what I have, and most importantly recuperate mentally as there will be a lot of hard work waiting once this virus has cleared.
What has been your go-to music/junk food/TV show during self-isolation?
My girlfriend has been watching a lot of Brooklyn 99 so I guess that’s been the series of choice for now. I also really enjoy writing, reading and watching tons of Joe Rogan podcasts.
Who on the team is most likely to go crazy during this time and why?
Well I know who would be taking it the best, and that’s hands down Jordan Wood. He is the most chilled out guy on the team. I think our coach Jimmy Owens would be going crazy. He doesn’t stop moving, and to be honest I’m worried for him after he told me his local F45 closed recently.
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