CARBONDALE (WSIL) --The coronavirus took it's toll on the sporting world, canceling and postponing numerous events. Perhaps one of the biggest was the Olympic Games. Due to the pandemic and for the safety of the athletes Tokyo 2020 was pushed back to 2021. Fast forward and we're less than 100 days away from the Summer Olympics. One local athlete is ready to compete on the world's biggest stage.
"Under 100 days, yea I'm so excited," said former SIU Track and Field standout DeAnna Price. "It's right around the corner. I feel like its coming down to the wire," said Price.
SIU Alum DeAnna Price is no stranger to spotlight on the big stage. Price competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics placing 8th in the Hammer Throw. Price has spent the last 5 years getting stronger and improving her technique. Now she wants to bring home a medal for her community.
"So, a lot with my technique is trying to be more relaxed and be smoother," said Price. "Of course when you get a lot of butterflies in your stomach, you get nervous and more tense and old habits do come out. So, what's nice about these competitions that I'm having, is that I'm still throwing very very well, But I'm not technically all the way there yet, so if we keep building and keep progressing, I think you're going to see really big things from team USA."
When local gyms and training facilities began to shutdown during the pandemic, Price found alternative ways to ensure she didn't miss a step.
"We went to Dicks sports goods," said Price. "We bought weight room equipment. We transformed our garage into a weight room. We transformed our spare bedroom into a therapy room. We were doing turns on our front patio. I was going to the mental health facility right down the street, and I was literally throwing in their parking lot. They probably thought I was a little crazy, but I made sure I kept with the reps."
"Anytime that you can just have a little more time to get ready, is just more experience under your belt," said Price's coach J.C Lambert. "A lot of people can look at everything being pushed back as a negative, but you got to turn everything into a positive as to how it can work for yourself."
"It was definitely kind of a shock because you haven't competed in a year, you're trying to get back into the groove of things and getting that competitive edge," said Price. "That's where I felt like I was struggling this year, is getting those competitive reps back in. I had an injury in 2019 and I still won Worlds and we were trying to correct the issue this summer. Luckily, we were able to do that and it gave us time to grow."
The extra work is starting to pay off. Price broke her own American hammer throw record about a month ago at an invitational in Columbia Missouri throwing 78.6 meters. The 2019 World Champion has now broken the American record 4 times and now holds the top mark in the world this year. Not to mention she did all this, not quite feeling her best.
"I just came from getting my second Covid shot and it definitely hit me pretty hard," said Price. "I wasn't throwing what I wanted, but Coach Lambert said you need to get the meet in. I will be there and they are setting it up for you. My opening throw I think was like 72.40 and I was like oh no that is terrible. Luckily, Coach Lambert was like this is a great opportunity to keep building, so each throw I was progressively getting better and better. Throwing the 70.60 was definitely shock. I am really really glad I did and I'm glad I went and turned out in my favor and breaking the American record once again."
"Always focused on how good is our bad days, because everybody can throw the best they can when they are feeling good," said Lambert. "It really comes down to, if you are going to make an Olympic team is how good are you on your bad day. In order to go to Tokyo you have to go through the Olympic trials and place top 3."
The Olympic trials will take place June 18�27, 2021 in Eugene, Oregon and the 2021 Tokyo Olympic games Opening Ceremony will be held on July 23.
