The Olympic dream for Paige McPherson has not died.
Paige McPherson, a native of Sturgis, is still hoping to compete in the Olympics.
P. Mcpherson Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
McPherson had planned to participate in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but the “Summer Olympics” were postponed until 2021 because to the COVID-19 epidemic.
Feelings were all over the Place.
“It was very disheartening since we were just beginning the ascent to the apex of our high performance strategy for the Olympics,” McPherson said. After learning that the event would be delayed by a year, we had to make adjustments to our training regimen and overall approach.
We knew what was going on with the epidemic at the same time, so we could relate. Not only did taekwondo have problems qualifying for the Olympics, but so did other sports that rely on pools or vast facilities for training.
McPherson said it was only logical to delay the 2020 Olympics in light of the COVID-19 outbreak and the announcement by Team Canada that they would not be competing.
Since previous Olympics were typically cancelled rather than postponed, the decision to push them back provided us some peace of mind.
McPherson explained that this development “sort of gave us some hope that at least we would have a shot to participate come come next year in order to accomplish our dream that we spent four years grinding for.”
McPherson will compete in the taekwondo welterweight 67kg division for Team USA in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics (147 pounds).
McPherson did not need to re-qualify to be a member of Team USA for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics because she qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics.
McPherson claims the COVID-19 epidemic will alter the 2021 Tokyo Olympics in significant ways.
For starters, Olympic preparation has undergone some shifts.
“In terms of my own personal preparation, this has been a little bit unusual and unique. Having competitions before to the Olympics allowed us to gauge our progress, as McPherson put it.
The European tournaments have been postponed for the past few months due to “COVID changing contests as far as the calibre and quality of the talent is usually throughout Europe.”
“In the Pan-Am region we are generally behind as far as medical and simply overall coping with this pandemic,” McPherson continued. Because of this, there have been no Pan-American or regional tournaments.
McPherson was quick to note that she isn’t the only athlete dealing with difficult training conditions.
Other athletes have experienced similar difficulties. McPherson stated, “All we can do is manage what we can manage, and then see what happens in Tokyo.”
On Monday, McPherson will compete again, this time at the Mexico Open. For her, this is her first match since the German Open in late February/early March of 2020.
In preparation for the Olympics, “we will actually be my very first competition, and the only competition to assess myself,” McPherson stated.
As a result, McPherson’s preparation for the 2016 Olympics has been one-of-a-kind.
In a way, it’s been unlike anything else. I have made an effort to separate my actions and strategies for these Olympics.
There have been rumours as to whether or not the Tokyo Olympics will occur, so I’d rather worry about how well I perform than about what might or might not happen in the future.
Due to the Epidemic, Vacation Plans have had to be Altered.
The 16th or 17th of July, roughly 10 days before my competition, is when we plan to fly abroad. McPherson said, “We will be here till I compete on July 26 and then leave as soon as we finish competing the next day.”
According to McPherson, the United States Olympic Committee has not yet determined whether or not to invite the American team to take part in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Olympic Games.
Alterations have been made to the Routines of those residing in the Olympic Village.
We’ll only be allowed to stay for a few days before our competitions, and then we have to depart, whereas in 2016 we were able to take in the entire Olympic experience.
McPherson remarked, “We were able to get there early, and be there for both the opening and closing ceremonies.”
In contrast, “this time because of the COVID-19 protocol, in Japan in particular, they merely want us to be there to get acclimated seven days before the tournament, and then depart right after.”
McPherson placed 11th at the Olympic Games in London in 2012 and then won bronze at the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016.
Her 31st birthday is October 1, and she has said this could be her last Olympics and last taekwondo tournament.
“If you want to appreciate this process, it’s crucial that you focus solely on the here and now. As things stand, this Olympic Games will almost certainly be my last major tournament ever.
Since I can’t change the future, I’m trying not to dwell on possible outcomes. “There is no such thing as the future in the now,” McPherson stated.
I want to take it all in and see what the future holds, how things pan out. I’m striving to reach my full potential. My entire attention has been on how well I do in these Olympics.
According to McPherson, the Tokyo Olympics will be her “final dance” as a taekwondo competitor.
It’s my last dance, as they say in the Michael Jordan documentary, so I’m trying to trust God and see what he has in store for me, visualise the process, and take the negative with the positive in order to maintain a consistent level of high performance as an athlete on a daily basis.