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For every athlete whose Olympic dreams came true in Tokyo 鈥 like weightlifter听Hidilyn听F. Diaz and boxer听Nesthy听A.听Petecio听鈥 there are so many others whose dreams were either dashed or delayed because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.听
Tokyo 2020 was supposed to be part of the redemption arc of Mary Joy R.听Tabal, who was looking to make up for Rio 2016, where she crossed the finish line well off her personal best. But canceled race after canceled race forced her to adjust her goals.听听
Ms.听Tabal, who made history in the 2016 Rio Games by becoming the first Filipino female marathoner to compete in the Olympics,听shares the lessons she learned with听大象传媒听senior reporter Michael Angelo S. Murillo听鈥斕齦essons that we can apply to our own lives.听
TAKEAWAYS听
Goals can change mid-race.听
In Rio, Ms.听Tabal听remembers that cramping early in the race听made her shift her mindset from bettering or matching her personal best to听just听finishing the 42-kilometer race听and earning the title 鈥淥lympian.鈥澨听
She did it and had to be transported out of the race area in a wheelchair.听
This mental resilience听served her again when the pandemic threw a wrench into her plans for Tokyo 2020.听
鈥淚 was really training and preparing to qualify for the Olympics but unfortunately so many races were canceled and I just had to deal with the reality that Tokyo was not for me.听Sayang听[too bad],鈥 said Ms.听Tabal.听
鈥淭he future is so uncertain; it keeps on changing. What鈥檚 important is to live one day at a time. You just have to focus on bettering yourself today and focus on doing something today. … Life is like a marathon,鈥澨齭he added.听听
After disappointment, move on.听
Despite the disappointment and frustrations of not being allowed to at least vie for an Olympic听spot, athletes just have to move on and take on new challenges.听
鈥淎fter the disappointment, I had to focus my attention on other things, including the 2021 SEA Games in Vietnam (which has since been deferred to next year because of the pandemic). It is something to look forward to,鈥 said Ms.听Tabal.听
鈥淥ne of the learnings here is to just be prepared. Things can change anytime. An opportunity can be taken anytime. Just take it a day at a time and focus on improving.鈥听
Keep your eye on the prize.听
Having experienced the Olympics, Ms.听Tabal听said听that focus is paramount if you听want听to excel in elite competitions.听鈥淏e an Olympian and give your 100% so there won鈥檛 be any regrets after,鈥澨齭he said.听
While the Tokyo Games got away from her, the Olympic bid is still alive for Ms.听Tabal, 32,听who has heart set听on听competing in听Paris 2024,听finishing the six major marathons听(she鈥檚听done听Boston, which leaves Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York), and competing in the SEA Games and Asian Games.听听
鈥淎nd after maybe I鈥檒l be given the chance to give back and help nurture young athletes to realize their dreams as well,鈥 she said.听
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Recorded remotely on July 16, 2021. Produced by Paolo L. Lopez听and Sam L. Marcelo.听
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