How Athletes coping with present Curfew – Hiruni (USA), Yupun (ITALY) ,Anjani and Aruna shares their thoughts
The Covid 19 pandemic has forced National Athletes to stick to their homes for an indefinite period, which they aren’t used to or haven’t done so in the past and they hardly want to miss two days of practice on the trot.
Sri Lanka has a couple of athletes who are stuck in other countries due to the pandemic. Sprinter Yupun Abeykoon is stuck in Italy where 69,176 cases and 6,820 deaths have been reported, while Marathoner Hiruni Wijayarathne is stuck in USA where 54,881 cases and 782 deaths have been reported as at 24 March.
We contacted a couple of National Athletes living abroad as well as in Sri Lanka to find out how they are coping with the present lockdown and still try to maintain their physical fitness.
Hiruni Wijayarathne –USA
(South Asian record holder of the women’s marathon, World Championship participant 2017 & 2019, SAG Gold Medalist)
Hiruni was one of the prime Sri Lankan hopes to make it to the Tokyo Olympic Games and was training hard in the USA, but has now been stuck inside her newly built house in Colorado. She said she utilizes her time to do workouts at home, as well as making videos of her workout alongside her marathoner partner Luis Orta who represented Venezuela at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
This is probably one of the toughest times an athlete who is in her prime can face, mostly because of the unique situation the whole world is facing.
“At first I was angry. All my scheduled competitions were cancelled. Then the tracks were closed; then gyms. One thing after another and now we are in lockdown. Then I realized this virus is more serious than any illness in recent history. So I decided to control what I can control and play my part.
“First was my attitude. Even if tracks and gyms were closed I could still do things in the house. My husband and I were fortunate enough to buy a treadmill. It was one of the best investments we made as we are both marathon athletes. So we run inside our home now.
“There are so many YouTube videos on full body workouts and cardio to do at home. Actually they are very good!
“I spend time focusing on things like good stretching and activation drills, things I usually don’t have time to do because I’m too busy with physical training.
“Good nutrition and vitamins because I can’t run as I normally would. I am careful about the food I eat and make sure everything is extra clean and washed.
“Good hygiene. This is obvious but critical. I can go outside to walk my dog. As soon as I return home first thing I do is take a good hand wash. 🧼
“We are all struggling. Everyone is impacted. I think the best we can do is to play our part to stop the spread of this virus so life can return to normal quickly.
“The hope of participating in the Olympic Games has already gone (with the cancellation), but I do have hopes we can conduct some competitions in a few months if people act responsibly,” said Hiruni.
Yupun Priyadarshana Abeykoon – Italy
(South Asian Games – Gold Medalist)
The extremely talented sprinter is stuck in Italy, the country which has been affected the most by the Covid19 pandemic. Yupun has been based and trained in Italy for many years, but came back to Sri Lanka last year to compete in the South Asian Games where he anchored the 4x100m relay team to the Gold medal.
Yupun went back to Italy only in January and has now been caught in the middle of the devastating Covid 19 Pandemic, and is now stuck at an Army training center in Rome. Unlike most athletes, since he is stuck at a training center with lodging facilities he has the ability to train.
“It’s devastating to know that people die everywhere here in Italy, but my mind is always about Sri Lanka and afraid about what it can do to my little country,” said Abeykoon. He also said the Italian Army is taking care of his and other training mates’ food, hence he feels somewhat safer than the rest of the Italian people in this situation.
Anjani Pulwansa – Ja-Ela
(Former National Champion and SAG Silver medalist – Long Jumper)
Long Jumper Anjani Pulwansa lives in Ja-ela, one of the first areas to be affected by the curfew. Her plans for 2020 have been doomed just like any other athletes’. She had to take early precaution to avoid contact with any possible Covid19 infected person as she was using buses plying from the airport to travel to Colombo for training, and had to stop using public transport once the country introduced stringent measures to curb the spread of Covid19. However, she continued training since competitions weren’t postponed, but once all competitions were postponed and the introduction of curfew, she too is now stuck and does home workouts to keep the fitness level up.
“It’s sad actually because I was preparing for the upcoming trials. My coach and I were especially targeting the first trial. Last year we did SAG as a test for the upcoming trials. This was a long term plan. All our hard work was in vain. Feels like someone took our chance without even giving notice.
“Coach gave me a workout to do at home just to maintain the strength. I think everybody is doing the same, but I don’t think any athlete is mentally focused because everywhere I hear how bad this virus is spreading and how many are losing their loved ones in a day.”
Aruna Darshana – Kandy
(SAG 400m Gold medalist, Asian Junior Championship record holder 400m)
Born in Seruwawila, Aruna Darshana now lives with his coach Asanka Rajakaruna in Kandy, since he has been stuck there due to the curfew. Darshana has the advantage of having close contact with his coach during this hour of darkness, and continues to maintain his physical fitness using nearby roadways and doing strength and condition workouts on the rooftop.
“I run early morning and do workouts which my coach instructs, but it’s becoming hard now. It’s been weeks since I last went to the track,” said Darshana.
Though he is doing well, Coach Rajakaruna said Aruna is reluctant to stay in Kandy and tries to go home. He has advised Aruna against this due to the prevailing situation, yet it is becoming hard to manage as Aruna is insisting on going home.
