"Our Dreams Aren't Cancelled": Athletes Respond to Postponement of Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Kokumai, the first American to qualify for karate in the Olympics, wrote via Instagram on March 23 about her long and difficult journey to get to where she is today. "This was not an easy road. It was lonely, things were uncertain. 21 international competition over the course of two years. Travelling and training alone, walking into the ring alone," she wrote. "Many uncertainties now, but we will get through this. Just need to focus on what we can control and keep working towards our dreams."

Coburn, a two-time Olympian in the steeplechase and pro runner for New Balance, tweeted the following: "Our dreams aren't cancelled, they are just postponed. Looking forward to dreams coming true for athletes everywhere in 2021 Red heart #Tokyo2021."

Hurd, the 2017 World all-around champion and a contender for the four-person Olympic gymnastics team, wrote on Twitter on March 23, "although i am upset that the olympics will not be happening this year, i agree that this is the best decision in order to keep the athletes and spectators healthy and to prevent the virus from spreading further."

Stewart, a forward for Seattle Storm, 2018 WNBA Most Valuable Player, and a member of the USA women's national basketball team, tweeted a simple message: "Tokyo 2020 (2021)."

McCleney, an outfielder on the US women's softball team that is already Olympic-qualified, tweeted, "Well let's turn up in 2021 then. #Tokyo2021."

Schweizer, six-time NCAA champion and pro runner for Nike, wrote on Twitter, "Welp...I guess I've never really had perfect vision anyway #2020vision #2021vision? However, in all seriousness, this is a really hard subject to talk about right now." She continued, "Nevertheless, the Olympics brings the world together and even if that doesn't happen this year, I have hope that when it does happen, it will just make it all even more special. As for now, the work continues and even though there's many obstacles, I'm still going to work just as hard to shoot for more moments like this in the future." She posted a similar message to Instagram.

"2021, lets do this," Masters, an eight-time Paralympic medalist aiming for a spot on the para-cycling Olympic team, wrote on Twitter. She finished off the podium for cycling in the 2016 Paralympics and took home five combined Nordic and biathlon medals from the 2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang. Masters explained that training for her winter competitions as well as the Olympics will be a challenge (hence, coffee). "I'll be honest, training between @Tokyo2020 &!@ParaSnowSports [sic] Nordic/Biathlon's world champs my coffee game is REALLY going to have to step up. You can only achieve big goals if you are healthy and safe. Control what you can #PlayInside #playfortheworld."