The ongoing global pandemic has caused the entire world to go into lockdown and has effectively cancelled all sports events from going ahead for the time being. The lockdown has left many of wheelchair basketball’s premier athletes stranded in different countries during this time. Rollt.’s Dylan Cummings spoke with several top players from GB and USA who are on lockdown in Germany and Spain respectively, to see how they are dealing with lockdown.
How are you finding lockdown?
Brian Bell (4.5 / RSV Lahn-Dill / USA): “The lockdown is going well so far. I’m forming a bit of a routine now.”
Matt Scott (3.5 / RSB Thuringia Bulls / USA): “The lockdown is something I’ve never had to experience before and with a crisis of this magnitude it can only be expected to make sacrifices for the greater good. The lockdown is extreme, but necessary to keep us all safe and healthy.”
What are you doing to keep active?
Brian: “I’m staying active by doing home workouts every day and either long walks or bike rides.”
Matt: “I am in an extremely fortunate position right now to have basketball and exercise to keep me active during this time. I’m training daily both mentally and physically.”
How are you staying connected with friends and family?
Brian: “I’m staying connected with friends and family through consistent communication through messaging and group video calls. I’ve had group video meetings with family, my national team, and my club team RSV Lahn-Dill.”
Matt: “We live in the age of technology. Staying connected only takes the push of a button. There are so many platforms to chat, talk, or see all family and friends from around the world.”
Are you enjoying the time you have to rest and recuperate, or would you rather get back to your regular schedule?
Brian: “I would have to say that I like being active and training, so I would prefer getting back to my normal schedule over all this time off.”
Matt: “I’m not enjoying it as ‘time off’, it’s certainly not something I would have chosen. These are simply the circumstances we are all faced with. I’m using this time wisely to better prepare myself for when the competitions resume.”
What’s the first thing you intend to do once lockdown ends?
Brian: “Once the lockdown is over, I will be heading to the gym to get a proper workout in, shoot in my chair and just hang out with my teammates here in Gießen.”
Matt: “I’ve learned through experience with hard times that it’s important to live in the moment and make the best of what you have presently. All we have is now. I don’t take that for granted. I’m not looking ahead for when the lockdown ends. I’ll be making the most out of right now, and when that time comes, I’ll approach it with the same mentality.”
Rollt. would like to thank all the athletes for giving their statements. Stay tuned to Rollt. for more exciting content during this period.
Interview: Dylan Cummings | Photos: Steffie Wunderl