U.S. swimmers: Lack of fans a 'bummer' but at the end of the day it's about 'getting your hand on the wall'

Record ID: 1625618

  • Title: U.S. swimmers: Lack of fans a 'bummer' but at the end of the day it's about 'getting your hand on the wall'
  • Date: 9th July 2021
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (FILE - NOVEMBER 6, 2020) (REUTERS) NATIONAL STADIUM - SITE OF OPENING CEREMONIES
  • Embargoed: 23rd July 2021 01:26
  • Keywords: COVID-19 Katie Ledecky Tokyo Olympics USA Swimming
  • Location: VARIOUS
  • City: VARIOUS
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Sport,Swimming,United States
  • Reuters ID: LVA001EKZFNLR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: American swimmers are still excited for the Tokyo Olympics and say Thursday's (July 8) decision to ban fans from the venues will be a disappointment but they are ready to go and compete at full speed.
    "It's definitely a bummer. We always enjoy the fans but at the end of the day once you dive in it's about swimming fast and getting your hand to the wall. We swam several meets this year without fans and still posted some top times so the weight of the meet is the Olympics not really about the fans being there so we're just going to go in an swim fast for Team USA and ourselves."
    Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said not having fans present at venues was essential to prevent Tokyo, where the highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19 variant was spreading, from becoming a flashpoint of new infections.
    People will also be asked not to gather for events on public roads, such as the triathlon, though officials said some venues outside the greater Tokyo metropolitan area would allow small numbers of spectators.
    (Production: David Grip, Peter Bullock)
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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