Katarina Johnson-Thompson the british scouser, who won the heptathlon gold last year in Doha at the World Athletics Championship has berated the government and International Olympics Committee (IOC) for allowing their advise on coronavirus at variance to each other in this ‘very crazy time of coronavirus pandemic. The 27 year old athlete made this known through her twitter post. She bemoaned her frustrations by early calling off her training in France after the lockdown over there to return back to United Kingdom.
“We’re trying to follow information with how to continue safely whilst reducing the risk to everyone around us and the information of the IOC and the local Government are at odds with one another”, she said.
“I understand that sport isn’t everything and there are more important issues sourrounding coronavirus but thought I would speak out purely on what my situation of it has been. Hope the UK, France and the rest of the world stay safe and look after each other in these crazy times of the season had been cancelled and that her plans will be ‘torn-up and redone’, she added.
“I already had limited gym access and no physiotherapy available but now I’m unable to train and heading back to the UK, which is also facing evolving challenges, we’re trying to follow information with how to continue safely whilst reducing the risk to everyone around us and the information of the IOC and the local Government are at odds with one another.”
Johnson-Thompson said keeping in a training routine under current isolation rules was “impossible”. The IOC advice ‘encourages athletes to continue to prepare for the Olympic Games as best as they can’ with the Olympics only four months away, but the Government legislation is enforcing isolation at home with tracks, gyms and public spaces closed,” she said.
“I’m in a very fortunate place given the circumstances,” Johnson-Thompson added. I’m healthy, well supported and I have already qualified for the Olympics.
