Kubová: the pandemic prolonged my swimming career












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            * Kubová: The pandemic prolonged my swimming career
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            Originally, Charles University’s Simona Kubová had hoped to be competing this summer for h

            medal in Tokyo. The coronavirus, however, saw an end to that. The postponement of the Game
            highly-talented swimmer, like fellow competitors, had to refocus and instead prepare for n
            is hoping, despite the delay, to make a big splash at the Games in 2021.

            How difficult was it to accept that the Olympics had to be delayed?
            When the pandemic hit it was pretty clear the Games would have to be rescheduled and that 
            happen. It was probably the right decision but it certainly complicated matters for some. 

            summer games, the World Championship in December was also cancelled, meaning no major comp
            year. Luckily, I will be competing in the International Swimming League at the end of Octo

            November, that will bring together many of the world’s very best swimmers. So that is moti
            The quarantine can’t have been easy for you and other sportspeople.
            In terms of the sport, of course it had an effect: suddenly it wasn’t possible to swim in 

            I couldn’t train and that complicated my preparation for the Olympics even though eventual
            postponed. Missing even a single week has a big impact on swimmers. You can stay in shape 
            and weight training but contact with the water is something that is impossible to replace.

            How did you train under the restrictions?
            Usually on my own, sometimes I’d go for a run with my husband. I tried to run, do weight t
            on an air bike and managed to more or less to stay in shape. But as I said, for a swimmer 

            water is what is most important.
            When were you finally able to get back in the pool?
            Pools in the Czech Republic reopened on 25 May but we were lucky: the government made it p

            members of the national squad to train – under very strict conditions – in Prague’s Podolí
            of April.
            Outside of sport, how were you affected by the lockdown?

            Well obviously sport was not the most important thing at that particular moment. There wer
            positives: life slowed down a little, people had more time to spend with their families, t
            nature, and so on. For those who contracted and suffered from the disease, I think it must

            very difficult. I was lucky. Right before the quarantine, I completed my doctoral studies.
            Speaking of your studies, was it hard to balance classes with your sports career throughou
            I always managed to find time for both: I always liked both sports and school. It’s true t

            I had very little time. But there was never any question of my continuing at university af
            My dad is a doctor and my mum studied pedagogy while I went to a gymnasium [Ed. Note: high
            Czech Republic with a strong emphasis on academic learning].

            Why did you opt for the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, and not follow, for examp
            parent’s footsteps?
            I wanted to study medicine but I realised I couldn’t make it work together with swimming. 

            however, is related and I am glad I chose it. I wasn’t picky about subjects so my mum help
            studied physio at both the bachelor and master’s levels. After five years, I applied for d
            and focused on Kinanthropology.

            Most of us know what physiotherapy is but what is Kinanthropology?
            It’s the study of human movement. I was interested in connections between physiotherapy an
            in the shoulder joint is a common complaint among most swimmers- and I was interested in h

            be affected by (or related to) weight training in the gym.
            During the pandemic, you admitted you were also thinking about ending your swimming career
            The uncertainty during the lockdown was very unpleasant so the idea came up. But that kind

            requires careful consideration before reaching a verdict on whether to continue or not. Ha
            gone ahead, I would have already made my choice.
            So, paradoxically, the pandemic prolonged your swimming career.

            Yes. My husband said the same: if the games had gone ahead, at this point in time I would 
            called it a day. That realisation made me a little sad.
            What will you do when you give up swimming at the top level for good?

            Focus▒on▒my▒family,▒get▒a▒bit▒of▒rest,▒travel,▒and▒enjoy▒free▒time,▒namely▒free▒afternoons
            Simona▒Kubová▒(29)▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒
                                                                                                      
            Graduated from high school in Chomůtov and was accepted at the Faculty of Physical Educati
            before the pandemic lockdown. She made her mark in swimming largely under her maiden name 
            the 100 metres in 2012. She also has ten medals from the European Championships. Kubová wo
            ¨                                                                                         

            Translated by Jan Velinger. You can find the original article in Czech here [ URL "https:/
            IFORUM-16854.html"] .