A local athlete says the International Olympics Committee’s decision to postpone the games to 2021 is the right thing to do. The decision came after several countries, including the United States, lobbied for the move. Conner McHugh, originally from Sturgeon Bay and a former swimmer at the University of Minnesota, says health comes first. With most pools closed athletes cannot prepare for the demands of qualifying.
McHugh notes the announcement is bittersweet for some. While it may be the right thing to do, athletes who have graduated college often find themselves unable to afford to train at an Olympic level because sports like swimming don’t have established professional leagues.