“I think the whole world really needs this Olympics, maybe more than anything else, due to the difficulties in the past year and a half,” Jonathan Groth, a Danish table tennis player who competed in the 2016 Rio Games, told VICE World News. “I think, really, the world needs to come together for one event and have something to focus on together,” he said.“The world needs to come together for one event and have something to focus on together”
Groth believes after a difficult year and a half, the Olympics could be a chance for the world to emotionally come together. Photo: Courtesy of Jonathan Groth
For Teddy Riner, France’s two-time Olympic gold medalist in Judo, the games mean more than simply breaking his numerous records.“There is no more beautiful symbol for me”
Teddy Riner is the world's most decorated judoka. Photo: Courtesy of Teddy Riner
Competing in Japan, the land of judo, represents a "beautiful symbol" for Riner. Photo: Courtesy of Teddy Riner
Canada’s Nikola Girke competing in the London 2012 Olympic Games. Photo: Clive Mason/Getty Images
Joseph Schooling, a 25-year-old swimmer for Singapore, won a gold medal in the 100 meter butterfly during the 2016 Rio Games. Photo: Courtesy of Simone Castrovillari
Lana Pudar, a 15-year-old swimmer from the Bosnia and Herzegovina team, was just focusing on the European and World Junior Championships. But when the games got pushed back, the Olympics were now on the table. “Honestly, if the games hadn’t been postponed last year it’s very likely that I wouldn’t have had a chance to perform at these games,” she said.“I really want to enjoy these moments because I can freely say that I am living my dream”
At 15 years old, Lana Pudar swam the best Olympic qualifying result in Bosnian swimming history. Photo: Courtesy of Lana Pudar