'Hearts got broken': UNC Olympic hopefuls reflect after postponed Trials

They dreamed of the anticipation, the racing heartbeats and the adrenaline that come with competing at the highest level of competition. They dreamed about representing their country on the world stage. They dreamed of standing on a podium, and of the shining gold medal as it’s placed around their necks. They dreamed about the opportunity to proudly wear the crest of the multicolored rings that signifies they are the best of the best.

Three UNC athletes dreamed about their shot at making it to the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, and they dreamed of what their performance at the Trials would have to be like to make it there.

What they did not dream, though, was having their training uprooted mid-season and packing their bags in a frenzy to return home instead of going to their Olympic Trials because of a pandemic.

Now, college athletes who qualified for Olympic Trials will have to sit tight for another year before getting to prove themselves, continuing to prepare both mentally and physically despite the uncertainty of what this next year could mean for athletics.

'Hearts got broken'

Grace Countie is unfamiliar with having time off from swimming.

The UNC sophomore, who was a five-time high school state champion and whose 22.09 time in the 50-yard freestyle is the third fastest mark in program history, is used to swimming year-round and sticking to a strict training regimen. Having her training paused during quarantine and moving to dry land workouts as pools closed was not something she expected. After qualifying for the Olympic Trials in 2016 but not progressing to the Olympics, Countie said she was looking forward to proving herself this time around when she qualified for the 100 meter backstroke and 50 meter freestyle events.

“We didn’t get the chance to show all of our hard work,” Countie said.

Not only was Countie excited for a chance to compete against the best of the best, she was excited for how her collegiate season was unfolding. A revamped swim team with a new coaching staff and a successful showing at the NCAA championship abruptly ended when campus shut down in early March. 

“It was bittersweet,” Countie said. “I was on a roll with my training. I had never been so successful in practice and out of practice in my entire career as a swimmer. And with weight training, I had never been lifting as heavy weights before. It was hard to see something you’ve been working toward get postponed.”

Countie isn’t alone in having a chance at the Olympics denied. UNC senior javelin thrower Madison Wiltrout knows that feeling all too well.

“The first time I qualified for the trials, I had to get out due to an injury I needed surgery on,” she said. “This time around, I was excited I was actually going to be able to go.”

She paused for a few seconds.

“And then this all came.”

Like Countie, Wiltrout was coming off of a stellar season prior to COVID-19 uprooting her training. Not only did she place third at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2019, but she also won an ACC title in the women’s javelin with a throw of 55.60 meters that was a collegiate best and a school record mark. Performing on the big stage was a far step away from training in her backyard in Pennsylvania during quarantine.

When Wiltrout got the news that she would again miss an opportunity at the Olympic Trials, she said she felt more confusion than anger. She admitted to feeling blindsided about the news, hoping that the virus would be under control by mid-summer, but was quick to accept the postponement and keep a positive outlook.

“I didn’t know what was going on with the world, let alone sports,” Wiltrout said.

Jill Shippee, a senior thrower on UNC’s track and field team, said the Olympic Trials were her end goal for the year — the main thing she was looking forward to all season — especially since it was her first time qualifying. Shippee, too, said she was in a great place training-wise before the cancellation.

Shippee's indoor season was just ending and she was preparing for outdoor competition. She was coming off a groin injury, but going through rounds of rehab and conditioning made her feel like she was finally getting ready to compete. Her family had even planned their trip to watch her at the Trials.

“Everything was falling into place, and then coronavirus happened,” Shippee said. “Things got shut down and hearts got broken.”

'You have to prioritize what actually matters'

With UNC's training facilities shut down, gyms and pools closed and a quarantine in place for some of the summer, athletes had to get creative to keep up with their training. Falling behind physically wasn’t an option, so finding unique workouts that could be done inside was necessary. Countie had to get used to being out of a pool, while Shippee and Wiltrout had to figure out how to advance in their training without a large field at their disposal.

With the trials being pushed back a full calendar year, staying focused was difficult — each athlete talked about how they leaned on their coaches and teammates for support. Weekly Zoom calls with coaching staff and individual teammates made the process of training at home feel a little less strange, Countie said.

But the physical training was just one part. The mental aspect was a whole other challenge.

“It was hard without the sport,” Countie said. “I went through a rough patch not being able to train and losing that part of my identity as a college athlete. Swimming is basically our lives at this school because we train 20 hours a week.”

Countie, Shippee and Wiltrout all said they struggled with staying mentally sharp. But they said they took steps to take care of their mental health, including taking necessary vacations and focusing on a more optimistic outlook.

“I definitely wanted to do the whining and the pitying, but you just got to be better,” Wiltrout said. “It’s less about being selfish, about losing your season because so did everyone else. Being an athlete is what you do. It’s not who you are. When something like this happens, you have to prioritize what actually matters.”

And for all of the athletes, staying safe and healthy is the priority.

Despite the hardships and the uncertainty that is blocking their dreams, Tokyo is still the goal. All three Olympic hopefuls said they intend to train until they can get one step closer to wearing the crest of the Olympic rings and feeling the rush of competing on a global stage.

@macyemeyer

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