The games of the 32nd Olympiad in 2020 are awarded to the city of Tokyo!
We agreed to postpone the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020 to 2021.
It began to feel real when we wanted to come back from the
training camp in Turkey.
We were among the last to leave the country. The airline sent us a
message at night, telling us there would be no more flights departing
from Turkey as of 8am the next day.
That’s when it hit us.
My colleague sent a message to our WhatsApp group. It hit me hard —
that’s a really hard pill to swallow. All you really do is train for
four years; it’s the highest goal an athlete can reach.
Whether it was good or bad for me personally won’t become clear until
the qualifications next spring. One thing won’t change
— whether it’s this year or next —
the Olympic Games are my highest goal, especially the upcoming Tokyo Games.
I didn’t think athletes’ nominations would be nullified. I was surprised.
But also happy because it gives me another shot at
proving myself and living my dream.
When you become an Olympic Champion, it takes a while to realize and
understand what’s happened. A lot of that takes place at home,
and not on site.
It is the main stage for sports. So this year’s decision was pretty
huge and carries consequences. Which is another reason why it’s
so important that they were postponed and not cancelled.
Thomas Röhler didn’t choose this downtime in the garden.
He had been training for the Olympic Games for several years
when the coronavirus pandemic hit.
The Games have been postponed for a full year.
In Spring 2020, the top-level sports world went into lockdown.
For around a week after we were in a sort of in between zone.
It was still ok to be on training grounds,
but let’s say it wasn’t welcomed. Gradually the sport retreated:
there were social distancing rules; and we moved the training equipment
from the halls to our homes so that we could stay fit.
None of us knew how long this would last.
Everyone has had to begin training alone,
and competitions have been cancelled.
Discussions about whether or not the Olympic Games could take place
began in March 2020.
We as a society don’t know what’s coming our way. We don’t know whether
the Games will take place as a big event, or if it’s a dangerous event,
infection-wise.
Going on walks has become a nationwide hobby. People are going outside,
and of course I am too. If you can’t travel anywhere,
you explore what’s outside your door.
We trained quite a lot. And then to find out the Games weren’t
taking place — it was as if you’d trained for nothing,
because that was your main goal. It was really sad.
Marie-Laurence Jungfleisch is one of Germany’s top high jumpers.
But she still wasn’t allowed into the training facilities.
She started training in the forest, because of problems with the hall.
I went with her several times. It was outside, which was still allowed.
In the beginning we all thought: Ok it’ll be two crappy weeks of pandemic
but then it will get better. Obviously that’s not what happened.
It became clear that the Coronavirus wasn’t just passing through.
At this point, no one knows how long the pandemic will last,
So athletes have been finding ways to train at home.
- Arms to the side, palms facing up. Right leg to the right.
A few weeks later,
Jungfleisch and her coach were allowed back onto the track.
Jungfleish competed in the 2016 Olympics. She came in seventh.
Many would be proud of that result. But not Jungfleisch.
We were both a little disappointed.
Because two weeks earlier she jumped two meters.
With two meters, she could have won in Rio.
After I came in seventh, I just wanted to be alone. I was so disappointed.
I didn’t want to see Tamás; or anyone really.
The Tokyo Games are Jungfleisch’s last chance.
She’s in her early thirties.
But can the Games or any competition before Tokyo take place?
The uncertainty is hard to bear at times. I’m training for competitions,
which may or may not take place. I don’t know — it's pretty upsetting.
"On this day I believe we can say that the first phase of the
pandemic is behind us."
"For weeks stores, restaurants and playgrounds have remained closed.
Now the capital is slowly returning to normal — to the great relief of most."
The first phase of the Covid pandemic is slowly coming to an end.
And the likelihood of the Olympics taking place is gradually increasing.
There’s no bigger dream for me. I absolutely want to take part,
and hope I make it someday. I structure my whole life accordingly.
My professional career comes second to my athletic career,
and I combine competitive sports with my studies.
Madeline Folgmann has had to stay at her desk much more often than she
would like during the Corona pandemic.
Her passion is the Korean martial art Taekwondo.
I was very nervous. I can remember how one of my teammates told me to
do a loud battle cry to intimidate my opponent, which I did.
And I can’t remember how it all went — but I know I kicked my opponent
in the head and she got a nosebleed. I looked at my mum and asked her
what to do. She said, good! And then I won.
It was a nice way to finish my first tournament.
The postponement of the Games has also had a positive side for Folgmann?
She didn’t make it past the qualification tournaments.
When the games were postponed, those results were nullified —
I’m very disciplined. I make sure I have a good daily routine,
that my social life isn’t too active or too late, and that I take time
to recover and rest. Basically that my life has structure. I need that.
She may be the underdog at the next qualification tournament,
but this doesn’t worry her.
I’ve always had to fight my way through.
I’ve always had many competitors and I just fought my way through.
Once I’m there, I’ll do what I’ve always done and fight — just fight!
The number of athletes who make it there is so small compared to how
many compete in the sport. But I want to be one of the ones who do.
Alexandra Ndolo is a German épée fencer.
For her too, there have been some positive sides to Corona.
I haven’t been going to tournaments as much so I’ve had more time with
my family — and I’ve realized how much I missed that.
Before I would only see them for Easter or Christmas —
and maybe my sisters in between.
But these months we saw each other a lot, and that’s been great for me.
Ndolo used to be a pentathlete. She only started fencing age 21 and since
then, the sport has become an intregal part of her life.
On some days it’s from when I wake up to when I go to bed. I’m always
thinking about fencing because you can’t take anything for granted,
and must keep developing. You can’t rest on your past victories.
Ndolo won bronze at the European Championships, but she wants more;
Going to Tokyo to take part in the Olympics would be a dream come true.
I was 10 years old when I first saw the games on TV. They just hooked me.
And that fascination has never left me since.
It's a huge sporting event, with so many disciplines in one place,
and top performances - the biggest event there is for most disciplines.
And I want to be part of it.
In addition to her Olympic dream,
Ndolo is focusing on one other project close to heart.
She co-founded the Kenya Fencing Federation in her father's homeland.
When I was in Kenya with my family or met friends there I’d often get asked:
Oh you do fencing, what exactly is that? With that white outfit?
Fencing wasn’t very common and many people didn’t even know what it is.
So I thought it would be a good place to build something,
get involved and help out.
Her efforts to bring fencing to life in Kenya are starting to bear fruit:
The capital now has a successful fencing school.
She really tries everything. Whenever she’s able to,
she sends money to her team in Kenya. She’s also sent us gear.
We keep it back there. We are very grateful to her for everything.
Way back, I was this kind of person who used to go to town and do some
evil things to some people. When I realized —
or when I heard about fencing, it somehow changed my life.
It’s exactly what I was hoping for —
to provide kids and teens access to fencing.
It doesn’t have to be super professional; building the structure
is already great. And as of last year, we’re part of the International
fencing federation. That was a big step, and I couldn’t be happier.
Never before have so many new Coronavirus infections been reported
to the WHO within 24 hours. Numbers are also rising
quickly in Europe, just before summer vacations and travel abroad.
Thousands of scientists are working on more than 150 vaccines. But none is
approved for use. So just how close are we to getting an effective
Coronavirus vaccine?
Thomas Röhler is starting to feel the effects of his paired down
training regimen, and the lack of competitions.
Yesterday when I got up I was really sore — which normally wouldn’t be
great for competitions in summer. But right now, it’s happening quite
often and feels like the beginning of my training in the winter.
It’s just taking a bit longer than normal.
Despite the restrictions, he’s trying to make the most of the 2020 summer.
Even though at this point he doesn’t know when he will be able to
put all of his training to use.
As an athlete, you want to plan ahead.
My trainer would also like to know whether the Games are taking place.
His workout has also become a test of patience.
In the summer of 2020, the infection numbers did go down.
But in 2021, virologists are still issuing warnings:
Will there be a second wave in Europe?
We don't know. Honestly, I think it all depends on vaccines.
However then, nobody knew how far away an effective vaccine would be.
There was one bright spot for Thomas Röhler though:
He and his partner just had their first child.
For me personally it’s a stroke of fate that this happened now.
As an athlete, you’re rarely home for longer than three weeks at a time.
So it was nice to be home longer now as a new dad. It also helped me
get through all the vague planning, cancellations and restrictions.
If she is going to take advantage of her second opportunity to qualify,
Madeline Folgmann also has to stay in good form.
The German coach will decide whom she takes. But it’s up to me to
grow as an athlete, get better, and work on details that could end
up being deciding factors.
In other words, anything is possible. You never know what’s going to happen.
Just like in this current situation. Always stuff you didn’t expect.
But you have to keep hoping.
The Taekwondo fighter has wanted to show her skills to the national coach.
But this hasn’t been possible because of Corona.
The constant uncertainty of not knowing is proving to be difficult.
Her family — especially her mother,
helps her cope and give her the support she needs.
That’s enough Mucki, no? Looks good, right?
Because I still live at home she’s there for everything and can tell
what’s going on deep down. She always finds the right way to get
through to me, to help and support me.
My family is super important to me. They give me a lot of support.
I don’t see them often so when I’m home, we try to use the time. Even if
that just means having dinner together — and enjoying some family time.
At long last —
the Taekwondo national team is meeting for the first time in months.
But instead of the all-important fight training,
only individual training sessions are allowed this morning.
And then the worst case scenario?
One of Folgmann’s teammates had tested positive for COVID-19.
Everything has to be stopped.
It wasn't a surprise that the course was cancelled. It's a shame because
we had a lot of good training partners here and team training is different
to always training at home, because here we can compete with the
best in Germany. So it's a shame. But we have to accept it now.
Once again, Folgmann isn’t able to compete.
It’s another setback in her fight for an Olympic spot.
But what about her health?
Has Folgmann also been infected with the virus?
Unfortunately, I didn't get to show them everything in these three days,
so now I don't know...
I'll go home and see how the Corona test turns out.
And if everything is good, I'll continue training as normal.
Germany has posted a massive spike in COVID19 cases with more than
6,500 new infections in a 24-hour period.
The second wave is crashing over Europe and intensive care capacity is
close to breaking point.
In Germany, rapidly rising Corona virus infections have prompted
action from the authorities.
OK, and now quietly upstairs. You know what to do!
Marie-Laurence Jungfleisch is studying to become a teacher.
She is doing her internship at a primary school in Stuttgart.
Normally it would last for six months.
But due to Corona, her fall internship will only be six weeks long.
I like working with kids. And I see how quickly they develop, learn new
things and apply them. Helping kids find firm footing to go on their way —
I think that’s the best thing one can do.
Marie-Laurence had a difficult time herself when she was in school.
I used to be bullied because of my skin color and had to change schools.
That’s not easy for a small child. Or for adults — this doesn’t just apply
to kids, but in general. It’s not nice for anyone.
Her parents live two hours south of Stuttgart.
Her father is from the Caribbean Island Martinique.
I didn’t know what was happening to my daughter then. She didn’t tell me.
I don’t know why. Her grades started dropping, and that’s when she said
she would like to switch schools rather than repeat the year.
I didn’t talk about being bullied. It wasn’t because I was ashamed.
It was just an uncomfortable topic for me.
And I didn’t want to bother my mother with it?
Mmhh, I think so too?
?I was ten or eleven. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust her...
But just that I wanted to work and figure it out for myself,
which is difficult at ten or eleven.
Back in Stuttgart.
With corona numbers on the rise again, another lockdown is looming.
We have a plan A, B, C, and even sometimes D in case things change.
where people can’t socially distance and there are many athletes.
The athletes are working on jumping power and technique. The empty stadium
they are training in reflects a wider situation, which at this point has
already been going on for far too long.
Unfortunately this year’s a bit uncertain. A lot of people are
preparing for competitions that will get cancelled at the last minute.
You are also working towards being fit enough for the competition by
training properly. So when all of that winds up not happening it’s
pretty tough to deal with.
Germany is bracing for a much tougher pandemic lockdown set to begin
in the coming days.
There will be a lockdown from the 16th of December.
What will happen to planned international sporting events?
Will they now be cancelled?
Despite the latest lockdown,
Alexandra Ndolo is on her way to her first competition in nine months.
It was an incredible feeling, but somehow also nerve-wracking.
I had to go through whether I had packed everything several times.
I normally do that on auto-pilot. March was indeed a long time ago.
Normally at these tournaments there are 100 competitors or a bit more —
today we’re just ten.
That’s obviously not a lot. But we get to compete and there’s a judge.
So it’s a step in the right direction.
Ndolo is among the favorites in Leipzig —
but right now finishing in first place isn’t her priority.
I just want to get back into my competition routine.
Get all my rituals back in, focus on myself and the match.
But the long interruption is showing its effects.
Ndolo is struggling to find her rhythm.
Qualifying for the Olympics was already a challenge for athletes —
and it’s become even bigger under pandemic conditions.
Still, after the many months of uncertainty, days like this are a good
way to feel a sense of progress towards something closer to normal.
We need events like these to get feedback on the training we’ve done,
to prepare for what lies ahead.
Every event like this is part of the preparation, which will continue until
April. So we still have a lot of time, and we’re using it to prepare.
The epee fencer is still far from being at her best form.
It’s a tough blow, especially with the upcoming all-important
qualifying tournament for the Olympics.
So things aren’t going as she’d hoped.
I am pretty upset right now. I expect a lot from myself.
Right now I’m hoping to win all national tournaments —
and in general when I’m heading to a tournament, I want to win.
But over the years I’ve learned to deal with failure a bit better —
and focus on what I need to work on. My trainer helps me, he’ll say:
Okay, that wasn’t very good. Now we know where we’re at and we’ll
work on this or that.
At this point we don’t know whether we’ll get to prepare.
but at this point no one knows what will actually happen.
Here in Leipzig, Ndolo was only competing against other Germans.
At the qualifying tournament in April, she will also likely face
international fencers — which will be even more challenging.
Madeline Folgmann’s Corona test has come back negative.
But the lack of competitions is taking its toll on her.
Life at the gym is lonely during lockdown.
And then some disappointing news:
Again, she did not make it onto the Olympic squad. With no competitions
to fight in, she was unable to make use of her second chance.
The national coach called me and told me that the two previous nominees were
re-nominated meaning I won't be there. Only if someone drops out.
Yet another punch to the gut but you just have to set yourself new goals,
keep looking forward and keep going. It's not so easy. And sometimes you
ask yourself: Is it worth continuing now? But you have to shift your
perspective. I have another chance at Paris and I want to make use of that.
Germany has recorded more than 50,000
Coronavirus deaths since the start of the pandemic.
That number has risen sharply over recent weeks,
even as infection figures are finally declining.
At the Olympic Summer Games in Tokyo no foreign fans will be allowed
into the country due to coronavirus pandemic.
A fishing rod instead of a javelin.
Thomas Röhler misses competing.
The last was a practice competition. They called it a competition,
but it was training. Other than that it was after the World Cup in 2019.
At the moment, things are scheduled to kick off again in May for Röhler.
But nothing is certain during the pandemic.
Athletes now know that international spectators will not be allowed at
the Tokyo Games. The news has made it even harder to stay motivated.
For me, one thing that makes it all the more difficult is the
fact that it looks like we'll be in the stadium without spectators.
I love the sport with all of its emotions, and with an audience
that supports the athletes, and gives us extra power.
We’ll notice their absence the way things currently are.
In the meantime, the first vaccines were making their way to Germany —
but so far, only a few have been vaccinated.
Everyone wants a dose — including top-level athletes.
Vaccination is discussed a lot.
It’s a highly political and topical social issue.
As an athlete, I’m in no position to say that I should be prioritized.
We do want to practice our profession. But many others say that too.
I don't think it would send the right message to society if we athletes
were to shout that we should be the first to be vaccinated.
The Olympics are an event for athletes from around the world to compete.
But at this point, they and other major sporting events are above all,
a health risk.
The athletes of Torun hall thought good planning and social distancing
would keep them safe, but now seven German competitors have contracted
the virus. Indoor sporting venues are becoming hotspots.
Bad news for the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Originally, I think we were around eleven. But then several of us
tested positive in Torun at the European Championships.
After that there were five of us, and then eventually six.
The fact that some tested positive when they came back is surprising
and also disappointing.
Due to an injury, Marie-Laurence Jungfleisch was not at the
European Championship. But now, she is finally able to settle in at the camp.
It felt really liberating — also because we really were at home most
of the time or training. We can train in the sun and enjoy the weather.
It’s nice to see something different, a change of scenery.
And that really was helpful for us.
The athletes see being in La Palma as a privilege —
but it’s one that comes with strict social distancing requirements.
The German team has been in effect sealed off —
with almost no contact to the outside world.
The Olympic Games are drawing ever closer —
but Corona is still casting a cloud over Tokyo.
On the one hand, I'm extremely happy that they're actually taking place
and that I can take part. But on the other hand, it's strange,
because everything is still so uncertain.
Of course we know that there will be no foreign spectators.
But a lot of the other circumstances are unclear.
So I wonder what’s coming, but am happy they’re taking place.
In just a few days it will be time for the qualifying tournament for Ndolo.
I think I'm in a very good position; I've been training very regularly.
I feel in shape, am not injured. Yes, I'm fired up.
I’m just want to finally start.
I hope I can maintain my fitness level until then or maybe even improve it.
At this tournament there will be one winner. All the rest are basically
in the same category — they didn’t make it. Usually there’s a winner,
a podium, the top 8 — all positions you can name and be proud of.
In the qualifying tournament it’s all or nothing.
Will the epee fencer make it to the Games?
And here we have Alexandra Ndolo, Number 25 in the world rankings.
Ndolo is off to a good start.
She makes it to the semi-final.
She’s competing against a woman from Belarus.
And the German wins.
And there it is, the 15th touch by Ndolo,
which has secured her entry into the finals.
I wasn't at my normal level after a season. Usually, I'd have had eight
World Cups and a ten-month season before arriving at the European-
or World Championships. But we did our best in the current situation.
The finale starts:
Ndolo is up against Olena Kryvytska, a strong competitor from the Ukraine.
The decisive match.
There’s the attack and the win. And the winning cry from the Ukrainian,
who has just secured her ticket to Tokyo.
I didn't win the tournament and of course I'm sad and a bit disappointed.
But not I'm not disappointed in my performance, because I know what
I’ve achieved in these two years of qualification.
My family and my friends give me so much support. I've had a nephew
for almost two years now, and I have two grandparents who are still
alive and in their mid-eighties. Of course, the Olympic Games
mean a lot to me and succeeding means a lot to me.
But having a healthy family that now spans four generations...
I think things like that are more important.
I know I'm not below average — that I'm one of the best in the world.
It wasn't enough this time. But the fact is: only three people from all
of Europe get to go, and they're among the absolute best in the world.
So, I guess I'll have to be among the absolute, absolute,
absolute best in the world for Paris and then I'll make it.
The countdown has begun.
The Flame has started its journey through Japan here in Fukushima.
The relay usually marks the moment that public excitement over the Games
picks up. But this time around the situation is different.
Japan is experiencing its fourth coronavirus wave.
The vast majority here is are for cancelling the games —
out of fear of new mass infections.
I understand that some of the enthusiasm is gone.
But for us athletes it's the biggest possible achievement, and I think it's
important for us now — and for sports in general.
Marie-Laurence Jungfleisch is finally taking part in a competition.
The pandemic still isn’t over, so there will be no live spectators.
It feels really good, really.
To finally be allowed to compete after two years.
But I felt a bit sluggish today — I can’t really say why.
I only drove three hours from home to Rehlingen. But somehow I still felt
as if I were tired. And my legs aren’t fit enough yet to jump any higher.
But she manages to jump 1.88 meters — and wins.
A good showing, yet she knows she can do better.
The long, forced interruption has disrupted her routine.
I still have many competitions ahead. I need a routine to be ready for
the Games — not just physically, but psychologically. To feel certain
that I can reach a good height. That I’m not just getting to 1.84 meters,
but to know that I can jump over 1.90 or 2 meters if I really give it
my all and everything lines up. Then it’s possible.
In spite of the numerous setbacks,
the Olympics are now slowly becoming a reality.
Even if many athletes still don't know exactly where they stand.
In Germany, at the end of May 2021, the numbers are steadily decreasing.
While the number of vaccinated people is finally increasing.
Among athletes as well.
Thomas Röhler now has his sights firmly set on the Olympic Games.
But what will the event be like this year?
You didn’t have a 100% fair competition before the pandemic,
and you still won’t have one after.
But the pandemic has brutally widened the social gap even further.
Those who have equipment, or who were able to keep training despite
lockdown conditions have a small advantage. The countries that
had no restrictions at all have an even bigger advantage.
Even after months of uncertainty, things remain unclear.
But — the Olympic dream lives on.
To enter the Games as an Olympic winner is very special.
I’m still going with the aim to win.
For us athletes, it's still a hugely significant event and I hope that
the atmosphere will be good - also among the athletes.
I hope it will still be unforgettable.