Who Had it Worst During Lockdown: A Point of View Into What Athletes Had to Endure Through COVID- Ava Mazzarella

The effects of Coronavirus and the lockdown following have affected every person's normality. Our year was cut short, and the response was disappointment, isolation, depression, and even anger towards the situation and its effects. Most empathy goes out to students, who's whole education has turned upside down. But you don't hear much empathy for athletes, who might deserve it most of all.

Education is forced on all students and is not something they can choose to take part in. On the contrary, to partake in sports is an athlete's decision and is done for pleasure. Many would say they enjoy sports more than school. This is why most athlete's worlds fell apart when the lockdown was placed over the country. To some, sports were the only thing holding them together in a world of insanity. So when the world became even more insane within the span of a week, it's no wonder that athletes were devastated when quite literally their joy in life was taken away from them.

Practices halted and seasons were postponed, finally ceasing as the end of spring neared. It was hard for athletes everywhere to accept the fact that they could not finish what they had worked so hard to hopefully achieve.

And what could be even more disheartening for athletes to realize? That along with not being able to participate in the sport they fell in love with, athletes would not be able to see their teammates and coaches. As an athlete, I can say that these people hold very special places in our lives, as we literally sweat, cry, bleed, laugh, succeed, and fail with them. Our worst and best moments are shared with these people- they are like the family and mentors we never knew we needed. 

On top of all the emotional dismay, would it be too much to infringe physical dismay as well?!! These sports were athletes' only form of exercise, also to be seized. Athletes continued to attempt to stay in shape, with at-home YouTube workout videos and daily jogs around the neighborhood, but there's only so much to do in a state like this. As the weeks in lockdown increased, the motivation of quarantined athletes decreased and it became harder and harder to even get out of bed while in lockdown.

To all of the athletes who had to go through this, and who might have to go through it again (considering the new rumored mandates about indoor sports), my heart goes out to you and all that you have had to work through during this tough time. 

A few of the teams from my cheerleading gym- sadly, our season was discontinued. :(