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Ugandan Top Runners Struggle to Train for Tokyo Olympics During Pandemic

Halima Athumani

   KAMPALA, UGANDA - The coronavirus pandemic has sometop-flightathletes
   struggling to stay sharp for next year's Tokyo Olympics after training
   facilities were shut down and competitions cancelled.

   Ugandan runnerHalimahNakaayi, the gold medalist in the 800 meters at
   the 2019 World Athletics Championships, is doing herbest to prepare
   under the restrictions imposed by COVID-19.

   With the games postponed and Uganda's gyms and stadiums closed since
   March to curb the spread of COVID-19, her only option is Kampala's open
   roads.

   But the25-year-old runner said training at home is the least of her
   worries.'¯

   "Around January, February, we'd got an opportunity to participate in
   the indoor games (World Athletics indoor, Nanjing), of which the main
   target was Tokyo. So, due to COVID, all the races were cancelled. And
   the worry mostly, being a lady, my time in sports is so short. So, I
   have to use my body -- if it's in position -- to deliver good results."

   Stuck in Uganda and withoutinternational competitions,Nakaayitrains
   with other runners who are also preparing for the Tokyo Games.

   They are only allowed to train in small groups to abide by measures to
   curb the spread of the virus.

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