The coronavirus didn't feel too real until the news broke that Harvard athletes would not be going to Albuquerque for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. I felt terrible for those athletes, but they were only the first. I didn't realize what would happen to college athletics—and the world – over the ensuing several months. But who could've foreseen this?
On the positive side, I feel grateful that I'm a junior and that I'll have more opportunities to do my sport. I can't imagine how seniors feel right now; the coronavirus precipitated an abrupt end to a significant story in many of their lives. Being unable to say goodbye to them, not to mention several other friends, has been difficult.
Finding the motivation to train for my sport has not been straightforward, a common theme among student-athletes. When I first got home, I had no issues. Summer would come soon, and it seemed like I would compete then—no big deal. As time went on, sporting events were getting canceled left and right, climaxing with the postponement of the Olympic Games. It was then that I started to understand just how much the coronavirus pandemic would affect me personally. All of a sudden it became hard to train. Why would I work so hard to peak in the summer if it was all for nothing?
Despite the prevailing chaos, at least some good has come with it. Not having any competitions for a while has forced me to think critically about why I practice my sport. After taking two weeks off from practice, I got antsy and wanted to get back at it. Instead of thinking of javelin as a means to be competitive and win sometimes arbitrary medals, I've realized that the sport has become more of an outlet for me. No matter what is going on in the world, I can always find an open field to go throw. I feel fortunate to have this constant in my life; it has given me hope in a time when it seems there is little to be had.
Interestingly enough, not competing has a major silver lining for me, too. I haven't had a season in which I haven't gotten injured in several years, so not having competition-level throws will give my body time to heal and get stronger. Of course, I'd like to compete, but it makes me feel much better to find the good in this situation as opposed to focusing on all of the negatives.
I have especially cherished the interactions with my friends, family, and teammates since we all departed campus. I love giving fellow javelin thrower Virginia Miller a call to catch up and see how she's doing. Typically, she is either riding her favorite horse or making a vlog. Team Zoom meetings have been full of fun games and jokes that make me miss campus that much more. Hanging out with my family has been an unexpected, yet certainly welcome treat. I spend most of my days working with my brother at his house and using his gym to get my workouts in. Sometimes he joins in too, and we push each other to stay on our game. I like that feeling, and I haven't been able to spend time with him like this since freshman year in high school.
For the foreseeable future, I'll be at home in Charleston, South Carolina. Though it's not Stanford, it has a timeless charm that never grows old (seriously though, you should come to check it out when this is over!). I'll be here completing my classes and working with some friends on a project centered around better understanding the spread of the coronavirus. During the summer, I'll be working remotely and continue training.
Quarantine has been a mixed bag so far. I'll remember the time I've enjoyed at home, but will never forget the time I've missed hanging out with my friends and teammates. I look forward to life getting back to normal one day, whenever that will be. Until then, I'll keep trying to find the silver linings in my life and keep on going.
Go Card!
-- Liam