Albany Olympian says Games pale in comparison to global pandemic threat

Olympic silver medallist Sonja Johnson has welcomed a decision from the International Olympic Committee to postpone the Tokyo Olympics until next year. The announcement came this week due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. Johnson, a South Stirling farmer, is a strong chance to represent Australia at a second Olympic Games after being named in the Equestrian Australia high performance squad in February. She won a silver medal in 2008 at Beijing and has put aside the disappointment of missing selection in 2012 and 2016 to firmly remain in the frame to pull on the national colours at the Olympics which will now be held in 2021. Amid the rising health crisis in Australia and other countries, Johnson said now was not the time to be preparing and holding an Olympic Games. “I think it’s really important — as athletes we are role models,” Johnson said. “Just because we are Olympians doesn’t give us the right to be out there doing things and contributing to the virus. It’s not life or death, the Olympics.” Johnson said the Olympics was insignificant in comparison with the health crisis unfolding around the world. “I’m glad they have postponed it until next year and I sincerely hope we don’t see changes in our squad because of coronavirus,” she said. The 52-year-old rider competed for Australia at the Oceania Championships last year and believes the extra time to prepare will benefit her young horse Misty Isle Valentino. “I’m used to training out of home so in many ways the isolation problem is not such an issue,” she said. “Many athletes hold themselves together and their body until the end of Tokyo and retire, but in my sport being old is not such a problem, so I’m lucky in a sense. “I’m doing online lessons and another year of training, especially for my horse, who is essentially young — maybe it’s going to help my chances. “If we are lucky we might get to compete in September, but I would not be surprised if I don’t do a competition this year.” Johnson said for her, unlike for a lot of her teammates, farm life would keep her occupied during the lockdown period. “The things I can be grateful for, I’m a farmer,” she said. “Everyone else on that squad is a professional horse rider. “I’m still going to put our crop in, do our sheep and cattle, and I’ll have time to do that. “I’m going to look at the positives hopefully come out the other end with our family and friends still there and go again.”