Michelle Patten

Ask an Olympian: Tokyo 2021?

Every four years, the Summer Olympic Games come around like clockwork, and citizens from around the world gather to cheer on their nation and their favorite athletes. For some of these athletes, qualifying for the Olympic Games is a life-changing incident, and the opportunity to travel abroad to compete among the best of the best is a one-time event marking the culmination of years of seemingly futile preparations. For others, the Olympics are a lifelong regularity, with these athletes returning every four years in the hopes of making history yet again. And for a handful, the Olympics were essentially an accident, or a decision made on a whim, for athletes qualifying earlier or later in life than previously planned. But for all, the Olympics are a big commitment physically, emotionally, mentally, and financially.