Ben O’Donnell thought he would have to watch the Tokyo Olympics from home because of a serious knee injury that would keep him from playing for the Australian Rugby Sevens team. But he felt a little happy when the Olympics were postponed to 2021 because of the coronavirus.
“I see my teammates, and they say I’m the only one smiling around here,” O’Donnell said in a TV interview with the Associated Press. “For me, this is a little good news and a chance to get back in the game.”
However, he knows he still has a long way to go. He will be recovering for more than nine months and needs to earn his spot back on the team.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Tokyo organizers decided to delay the games after many people speculated about whether they could start on July 24 as planned. Olympic champions and many athletes wanted the IOC to postpone the event.
Athletes were worried about catching the virus if the Olympics went on and also about how they would qualify since they couldn’t practice or compete during lockdowns in their countries.
“Yeah, it’s a smart decision,” O’Donnell said, becoming serious about how tough this time is for athletes and coaches. “A lot of teams worked really hard to qualify, and it’s hard for them.”
“Our team was doing well, so it’s disappointing that the Olympics got pushed back, but it gives us a chance to come back even stronger.” He hopes that means he will be part of the team.
Australia, currently fourth place on the HSBC Sevens Men’s World Series standing, lost to New Zealand in the last final at Vancouver. The Australian women’s team, who won gold in 2016 when rugby sevens first appeared in the Olympics, was in second place in the world series.
O’Donnell has scored 47 tries in 95 matches in the world series and is known for his impressive playing style and his unique mustache. However, he has only played three matches this year after tearing his ACL in January during an event in Hamilton, New Zealand, which required knee surgery.
He has been recovering in Sydney ever since. Since no one is currently playing, he feels like he is catching up on his training to rejoin the team and compete for a chance to go to the Olympics. With Australia’s largest city getting ready for lockdown due to rising coronavirus cases, O’Donnell feels ready.
“With my injury, I’ve been stuck on the couch anyway, so I’ve had some practice,” he said, talking about his time watching TV. “Seinfeld has been my main show, so it’s been pretty easy for me.”
