Sage Watson of Seven Persons reacts after finishing a women's 400-metre hurdles semifinal at the World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar on Oct. 2, 2019.-AP FILE PHOTO
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The 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo are going to look a lot different this year, but Sage Watson still has her sights set on the podium.
“My goal is to make the final of the 400 (metre) hurdles and hopefully to go for a medal in there,” said Watson. “Then for our 4×4 women’s relay team to go for a medal as well.”
The local hurdler is representing Canada in her second Olympic Games.
“I’m very excited. It’s a huge honour whenever I get to represent Canada at the world stage, especially at the Olympic Games,” she said. “I’m just really looking forward to it and I’m just excited about the opportunity again.”
COVID-19 delayed the games a full year and the virus is still taking its toll on the event. There will be no fans and Watson says she will be without her family and her coach. However, she says her coach will write her training program and she’s training with him now before she boards her flight to Tokyo. On race days, she will have Team Canada coaches to help with technical training.
The 27-year-old says the COVID restrictions will be strict at the games and there will be multiple COVID tests done prior to and at the games. Regardless of the restrictions, Watson says she is feeling good.
“The past year and a bit has been challenging because of COVID with training and competition,” she said. “But I’m feeling positive with my game plan going into the games and I’m just really excited to hopefully run some fast times there.”
Reflecting on her last Olympics, Watson says she has learned a lot and brings that experience with her into this year’s games.
“I just have so much more experience now, going into my second Olympic Games. I have a good idea of what to expect,” said Watson. “When I went to my first Olympic Games, I was still in university competing and now I’ve been a professional athlete for the past three years. So, I have a little bit more experience under my belt, so just taking that experience with me this year will be really great.”
In the next few weeks leading up to the games, Watson says she is focused on training, recovery and making sure she is 100 per cent focused on getting prepared the best she can before leaving for Tokyo.
Although there won’t be any fans in attendance, Watson knows she has the support of the Medicine Hat community and surrounding areas.
“I just want to thank Medicine Hat and the community for all the support they show me, it really means the world to me and I really appreciate everything that the community has done for me and all the support they’ve shown and I just want to hopefully do the best I can to represent southern Alberta Cypress County and Medicine Hat.”
