The Brazilian Olympic Committee re-opened its training centers on Tuesday, according to a report from Reuters. In a normal world, the Olympics would be starting this Saturday, but the Games have been pushed back another year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s a good time for us to go back,” said World Champion Ana Marcela Cunha. “Looking forward to the 2021 Olympics. The feeling of starting over to fulfill a dream. Today’s first practice was a warm-up.” Cunha was the World Champ in the 5K and 25K at the 2019 Worlds and also finished fifth in the 10K which solidified her spot in Tokyo. She was also the 2019 Open Water Swimmer of the Year by this publication.
With over 2 million confirmed cases in the country, the Brazilian Olympic Committee decided to send some of its best athletes to Portugal and other European countries over the next few months to train safely ahead of next summer. With the best athletes in the country headed elsewhere, that leaves only a few left in the country to train at the national training centers. According to Reuters, masks are required to be worn at Brazil’s facilities and equipment must be wiped down before use in the gym.
The list of swimmers going to Portugal includes Brandonn Almeida, Marcelo Chierighini, Breno Correia, Marco Antonio Ferreira Júnior, Felipe França, Guilherme Guido, Viviane Jungblut, Vini Lanza, Felipe Lima, Gabriel Santos, Leonardo Santos, Murilo Sartori, Fernando Scheffer and Pedro Spajari.
Joao Gomes Jr. was also on the list to Portugal but he has tested positive for COVID-19.
Brazil’s lone medalist at the World Championships in Olympic events, Bruno Fratus, is training currently in the United States in Coral Springs, Florida.
“We’re facing a very difficult time, but we’ll get through it,” said Jorge Bichara, the Brazilian Olympic Committee’s sport manager.
“We’re going to resume training. We are going to work very hard next year so that the athletes arrive in good condition at the 2021 Olympics and can represent Brazil.”