Delaying the Olympics to 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic brought about a mix of disappointment and understanding, relief and concern for athletes. (March 24) AP Domestic
When news broke this week that the 2020 Olympic Games would be postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak, Mike Bottom found himself thinking about his past.
In 1980, Bottom, then 24, qualified for the Olympics in the 100-meter butterfly. But the United States, in the middle of the Cold War with the then-Soviet Union, boycotted the 1980 Olympics, which were held in Moscow.
The decision stung. Bottom says he is still dealing with "a lot of anxiety" stemming from that experience.