The world continues to change in the age of the coronavirus, and sports athletes are not immune to change. Gyms, university fitness centers, and professional training facilities have all been shuttered.
This has caused many trainers and athletes to ponder the question of hot to train during COVID. And how to train at a level needed to stay competitive.
Sports has definitely felt the blow of coronavirus. Many professional futbol leagues around the globe, the United States MLS, NBA, MLB, and NFL leagues stand on uncertain ground. Even the summer olympics have been postponed. Not to mention the effect on fans and the wagers made via online sports betting sites like Sidelines.
In some ways, this gives athletes a unique moment in time to take training to the next level. But without training facilities readily available, what metric of fitness can be achieved? Athletes of course are not only physically capable of rising to the occasion, but also mentally tough.
How can athletes train effectively during the age of coronavirus? Let’s take a look at some ways professional athletes from around the world are taking on training during COVID.
Pro Athletes Taking Training To The House
Athletes are still training, honing their bodies and minds in anticipation for potential sports events to come. Do not think professional athletes are simply taking a break from their craft. In fact, many are training in very creative ways. Backyards, livingrooms, and offices are being transformed into at home training facilities. Just not so state-of-the-art.
Kilian Frankiny, professional Swiss cyclist, trains by riding his cycle stationary at home. In fact, Frankiny just competed in the Digital Swiss 5, a virtual cycling event that stood in for the canceled Tour de Suisse.
One of Great Britain’s professional pole vaulters, Holly Bradshaw, continues to practice her technique in her home backyard.
Canada’s national water polo player, Kyra Christmas, built a pool in her backyard where she trains drilling in goals at her home in Alberta, Canada.
It is clear that athletes are still going about training, getting ready for upcoming events. However, this is where effective training during the age of coronavirus becomes complicated. Many athletes don’t know when or if the next event will take place as scheduled.
Uncertainty Of Scheduled Events Proves Problematic For Training
Training may not be the issue for athletes. Yes, not having the high-level training facilities open does prove an issue for athletes. But athletes have taken training to the house, continuing to prepare physically and mentally. But the mental aspect may be wavering as scheduled events continue to be uncertain.
For example, Olympic pole vault champion Katerina Stefanidi landed in Greece this March with plans to train for the month and then participate in the Olympic Torch Relay. But none of this went according to plan.
Training was a bust, and the Olympic Torch Relay was cancelled. Even Stefanidi had her poles stuck at an airport due to coronavirus measures. No poles, no pole vault training possible. This caused her and her team to worry about the mental and physical training level needed to compete in the Olympics, whenever they happen. She did, however, win a virtual pole vault event recently.
Many athletes feel the same mental exhaustion. Olympic athletes sit in coronavirus uncertainty. Even pro athletes in the U.S. are feeling the uncertain COVID impact. The NFL teams have yet to get word on where, when, or how long the upcoming season will be. If the season happens at all.
Athletes May Be Working On The Mental Game More Than Ever Before
Athletes spend countless hours training their bodies. And you will hear professional athletes speak about the mental game from time to time too. Well, in the age of coronavirus, the mental game may be just what they are working the most on.
U.S. Olympic hammer thrower Gwen Berry had the same lack of physical training outlets to explore. Berry normally trains at the University of Houston in Texas. It is not uncommon for professional athletes to train at university facilities. But the facilities at the university have been closed due to COVID.
Berry found solace in overall improvement. She told media outlets, “”I’m working on a lot of things. My goal isn’t just to get to the Olympics. I’ve already been there. My goal is to continue improving, to reach excellence.”
Mental being a big part of every sport, athletes are training effectively during the age of coronavirus in many different ways, regardless if a training facility is available.
