A VOICE FOR THE SPORT

ALREADY LOOKING AHEAD

BY JOHN LOHN

Missing it already? Have you started the countdown to Paris? Only a little more than 1,000 days this time around. Should be manageable. And remember, you were able to cope with a five-year gap between the Olympic closing ceremony in Rio de Janeiro and the launch of action in Tokyo. No, it was not fun. But you made it—COVID-19 be damned.

The Olympic Games just wrapped up, the Japanese capital enduring a one-year delay to serve as the centerpiece of the sporting world. It was an Olympiad unlike any other, with numerous restrictions in place. Familial support was absent for the athletes. No spectators. Limited movement for all parties involved—athletes, coaches and media.

The 2020ne Olympics will forever be known as the Pandemic Games. The fact that label will be attached to Tokyo’s second hosting gig (1964 was the first) does not mean the city failed. On the contrary, plenty of memorable moments were captured for eternity, and Tokyo deserves applause. Yet, when a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic arises, and affects the world, there is no escaping an arm-in-arm walk into history. So, accept the reality that Tokyo and COVID-19 will always be linked.

Although Tokyo is in the rearview mirror, the next few months will provide the chance to replay some of the epic moments. A favorite triumph. A heartwarming tale. An upset no one saw coming. At the same time, we will start to peer ahead, envisioning what will unfold when the Olympics—a century later—return to Paris.

As much as we craved competition from the Tokyo Games, especially due to the extrayear wait, we are a what’s-next society. Call it a measure of impatience or view it as an eagerness to witness the next great hope or the continued excellence of a current star. Simply, the excitement level hovering over what might come is rarely extinguished.

The last time the Olympic Games visited Paris, it was 1924, and a 20-year-old named Johnny Weissmuller emerged as a star. He claimed three gold medals during his Olympic debut, the highlight a victory over fellow American Duke Kahanamoku in the 100 meter freestyle. Their duel was a changing-of-the-guard moment, as Kahanamoku was the twotime defending champion. For Weissmuller, a repeat in the event was completed in 1928 in Amsterdam, with a famed career as Tarzan on the Silver Screen following.

Now, we glance at Paris 2024 and begin to wonder: What will we see? There will be no shortage of possibilities, the number of storylines growing with each passing month. Consider a few of these early questions: • Which of the sport’s current veterans will continue to shine? Caeleb Dressel is poised to maintain his powerful presence. Will Sarah Sjostrom remain a factor on the international scene? How will Katie Ledecky approach her pursuit of a fourth Olympic Games? • Which present-day early teenager will emerge as a major force? We know there is one.

Somewhere, whether it be in the United States, Europe, Australia or Asia, there is a 13-year-old with considerable talent, a can’t-miss type bound for stardom. And when

Paris rolls around, she will be a 16-year-old ready to soar onto her sport’s biggest stage. • What can be expected of someone like Carson Foster? The University of Texas standout just missed qualifying for Tokyo, and his vast talent figures to take him to Paris. How will he progress over the next few years, and will he be a face of Team USA the next time the Olympic Torch is lit? • In the coming months, as is tradition, several big names will say goodbye and move on to a new phase of their lives. But with one less year until the next Olympic Games, will some athletes hang on for another go?

It’s strange. Tokyo just concluded, and here we are already wondering about Paris. Are we that impatient? No. The Olympics are just that great a spectacle, a defining aspect of our sport. And we can never get enough.v

John Lohn

Editor-in-Chief Swimming World Magazine

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