Sarah Douglas: Back to the grind

Success at the Olympic level requires planning to ensure peak performance at the games, but since nothing is known what events will be held between now and the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 next year, that makes planning a problem.

But disruption creates opportunity, and since every previous playbook on how to succeed at the Olympic Games is now in tatters, those that succeed in Tokyo will have mastered this new reality better than the rest.

Sarah Douglas, training to represent Canada at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in the Women’s One Person Dinghy (Laser Radial), hopes to break that code. June was a month of slowly getting back to ‘normal’ life or at least some more normal activities. Sarah has been back on the water and in the gym. The warm weather has arrived in Toronto and she is looking forward to spending the summer in Canada…. here’s an update:

I arrived back in Toronto in mid-May and luckily enough, after my 14 day quarantine, some restrictions had been lifted. Since then, I have been able to sail and go to the gym. As things start to slowly open up in Toronto, I am able to train on the water following the protocols outlined by Sail Canada, Ontario Sailing and the Government of Ontario.

I have been sailing out of my home club of Ashbridge’s Bay Yacht Club and hitting the water with my teammate Clara Gravely and Sail Canada head coach Ken Dool. Our on water focus has been to get back to the basics and master them. We have done many repetitions of mark roundings, tacks and other maneuvers.

Not only did I get back on the water, but I got back into the gym! The Canadian Sport Institute of Ontario opened in early June and it was a very exciting day. I was the first athlete to workout in the space and I felt very privileged; I couldn’t stop smiling! I hadn’t touched a barbell, pull up bar or lifted anything over 25 lbs in months and I was very excited to be back on the gym floor with my trainer (distanced, of course). Watch the CBC news clip here.

What’s Next?
The radial squad is re-uniting in Kingston! I’m so excited to get the band back together as we haven’t seen each other since Australia in February. We will be in Kingston for the summer, filled with sailing, working out and bike riding.

Working Together Towards Inclusivity
I am happy to work with Sail Canada in creating an inclusive and diverse environment for everyone in the sport and sailing community. Click here for resources and more information.

Olympic Sailing Program
Men’s One Person Dinghy – Laser
Women’s One Person Dinghy – Laser Radial
Men’s Two Person Dinghy – 470
Women’s Two Person Dinghy – 470
Men’s Skiff – 49er
Women’s Skiff – 49erFx
Men’s One Person Dinghy Heavy – Finn
Men’s Windsurfing – RS:X
Women’s Windsurfing – RS:X
Mixed Multihull – Nacra 17

Original dates: July 24 to August 9, 2020
Revised dates: July 23 to August 8, 2021

Details: https://tokyo2020.org/en/games/schedule/olympic/