Olympics: Rower Kathleen keen on fitness ahead of next year

OLYMPICS

By Shafik Ssenoga and Simon Ssemazzi

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Ugandan rower Grace Kathleen Noble says the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games to next year due to the coronavirus pandemic will give her more time to prepare for the competition.

Kathleen, who used to train four hours everyday, believes that by the time takes part in the games next year, she will have gotten fit.

"In the coming months, I believe I will improve on my tactics and be in shape," she said.

Welcoming the postponement, Kathleen is among the 17 Ugandan athletes that have qualified for the Olympics and she told New Vision from the US, where is currently residing, that health and life are more important than anything else.

The coronavirus has infected over 800,000 people across the world, with Europe taking the greatest hit among all regions.

The US has registered more than 185,000 cases, and over 3,700 have succumbed to the disease.

The Olympics, originally slated to happen on July 24-August 9, have been pushed to July 23-August 8 next year. They will maintain the Tokyo 2020 brand.

Kathleen, 25, doubles as qualified medical doctor. She will be the first Ugandan rower to represent the country at the Olympics.

For now, she is engaged in medical work at Huntsman Cancer Institute, which is located on the campus of the University of Utah in the Salt Lake City.

"I used to conduct my training sessions in the morning and afternoon with a high school team because it is the only serious team in the area. But because of the outbreak, we don't do so any more.  So I turned my attentions to my role as a doctor," she said.

Middle-distance runner Winnie Nanyondo and boxer Shadir Musa Bwogi are among the Ugandan athletes that have made the Olympics cut.