Matt and Izzi: Reflecting on Tokyo 2020

Published Fri 01 Oct 2021

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Copyworld Toshiba Interclub: Round 1 (October 16) and Round 2 (October 30)

VIVA SA All Schools Games, October 23 & 24

South Australian athletes Matthew Clarke and Isobel Batt-Doyle represented their country on the Olympic stage during the Tokyo Games - here is their reflection from their debut Games.

Isobel's Olympic Games campaign

In search of a qualifying time for her 5000m event, Isobel made the decision to pack her bags in May this year and head to Europe, after qualification opportunities dried up on home soil, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the lead up to the Games she trained and raced in the UK, Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy and Finland across a three-month period and managed to secure her ticket by running a 15:04 Personal Best time in a Netherlands qualifier.

On the big stage of the Olympic Games, Isobel's 5000m heat took place at 7:30pm (Tokyo time) on Friday, July 30, where she ran 15:21, which placed her 28th overall.

She had to battle hot and humid conditions.

Matt's Olympic Games Campaign

After what he called "the biggest season yet in terms of workload" Matt secured his ticket to race the 3000m Steeplechase in Tokyo in what seemed like the last minute.

In the lead up to the Games it looked as though he had missed out, sitting 46th overall on the Steeplechase event rankings, but in the final nomination process he rose into the 45th position on July 7, just 23 days before he raced in Tokyo.

In what was a whirlwind month for Matt, he travelled to Tokyo and raced in his heat on the morning of Friday, July 30.

Running in Heat 3, he finished in a time of 8:42, which wasn't enough to progress him through to the final.

Here is their assessment on the biggest race of their careers:

Matt: "My race, I would have loved to have got more out of myself (running 22 seconds slower than his personal best) but looking back now those were somewhat unrealistic expectations given my insane lead in,” he said.

"It was an awesome first experience, but it's left me hungry to go and improve on what I've learnt on the biggest stage."

Isobel: "I ran 15:04 to qualify and my PB from one year ago was 15:41, so I am so proud of that improvement path," she said.

"When I hit that Olympic race I was in the shape of my life and felt fitter than when I ran the 15:04, so I was confident and wanted to get close to that 15:00 barrier.

"Realistically I came into the event ranked 26th and I finished 28th so I didn't do great, and I didn't do terribly.

"Running 15:21 in that humidity, I wish I could have given more, but I am proud of what I managed.

"You expect that on the Olympic stage you expect that you can lift that bit further, but you can only do what you can do.

"For both of us, just getting there was incredible and if you told me last year that I would have been there I would have thought you were crazy."

I: "It was a challenging time, I am not going to lie," she said.

"Coming off such a high in making it there, I have realised that so many people leave the Olympics with disappointment because you always want more as elite athletes.

"Realistically, I am proud of what I have done and the journey I took to get there."

The overall Olympic experience:

I: "The athlete's village was amazing and while there were no crowds, you could still feel that Olympic Games energy," she said.

"The stadium itself, I didn't have the opportunity to go there until I walked out for my race - I remember walking into the stadium and being hit with so many emotions because it was so big and bright and empty, that was amazing.

"It was so impressive that Japan was able to implement all of the protocols that allowed it to go ahead, in what felt like a safe and smooth process.

"We felt very comfortable."

M: "Being called out and walking to the start line, that moment is ingrained in my memory," he said.

"After that I went into autopilot mode and went about my race, which unfortunately didn't end the way I would have hoped.

"Now that I have had this experience and know what it’s like, I know that I can trust the process and plan to hopefully have a big crack at going to Paris 2024 and being highly competitive."

"The Covid Games":

M: "One thing that only had the possibility of happening because it was a 'Covid Games' was that our (viewing) access to the track and events was incredible," he said.

"We went out and watched our Aussie teammates compete and we had front row seats during the Men's High Jump (we saw that amazing moment when they awarded two gold medals), the Men's 100m and Men’s 800m final.

"The viewing experience was probably better than any athlete has had before, and that's only because of the Covid element - we had two amazing nights of athletics watching."

I: "We felt so lucky, being that close and seeing the raw emotions was incredible - the Men's High Jump Final was something I will never forget,” she said.

"We had a great little Australian crew of athlete supporters and we had that amazing on and off track relationship with the competing athletes as we were right there to cheer them over the line.”

"It was an incredible experience, and while we missed so many of the usual Olympic experiences, such as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, having crowds in the stadium, seeing the city and mingling with other athletes, it was still an amazing experience.

Being an Olympian:

M: "Being an Olympian gives me so much confidence," he said.

"At the start of the season I was the fourth ranked Australian Steeplechaser, so I was always running an up-hill battle to qualify, but now I am in the top three and I feel like I am in a position to focus on performing in the major races, rather than just getting there."

I: "Being an Olympian is something that I will have forever, there are no former Olympians, you are always an Olympian," she said.

"While it gives me confidence, I know that it doesn't change the way I compete or how others compete around me so I am just another runner when I get to the start line.

“I just want to keep competing and keep improving.”

Representing your country:

M: "It is a surreal feeling and every sporty kid's dream to go to the Olympics and that has set in now," he said.

"I have been to the World Uni Games and Oceania Championships, but the Olympics was another level of that, and it goes both ways, our country puts in so much effort to give you the best shot to give you the best chance at competing so we are so blessed to have this chance.

I: "It set in for me when I came home and saw family and friends and they were calling me an Olympian, that is incredible," she said.

Quarantine:

After having to deal with "hectic" schedules in the lead up to the Games, and the excitement of the main event, both Isobel and Matt didn't mind the opportunity to lay low in Northern Territory quarantine on entry back into Australia.

M: "The first week was fine and it was a great opportunity to reflect on the whole journey and relax because it was a huge task," he said.

"This was the longest season to date, so regardless of where I was in the world, I would have been putting my legs up and taking it pretty easy anyway.

"I did a lot of journaling of my experience, and it was nice as I could talk to people on the phone or via text at length as I had nothing but time to have the opportunity to do that."

I: "I love running and exercising every day, so it was difficult not being able to get out and do that, only being confined to yoga mat exercise on the balcony, but after a few days off I let myself relax and I enjoyed a few days to lay in the sun," she said.

"The quarantine period wasn't what I wanted at the time, but it is absolutely what I needed because it was a tiring and stressful three months.

"Coming off that extended break, I have come back fresh and have been able to look back on the season and be proud of what I achieved - this down time will hopefully allow me to be where I want to be when competition fires up again."

Have a Go at Athletics:

I: "I think everyone should have a go at athletics because it offers you so much in terms of friendships, travel experiences and invaluable lifelong lessons," she said.

"Anything you learn in athletics you can relate to life, and I have grown so much as a person from participating in this sport.

"There are so many disciplines that you can try, you can throw, run and jump and you can literally do anything that suits you."

M: "It is an extremely holistic sport, it is basically a measure of fitness, and it teaches you about the great balance in life," he said.

"You can't be all in, and you can't be too relaxed, and people can get so much out of it."