Back to the Olympics Newsfeed

As Team USA athletes prepare for no families at Tokyo Olympics, one sport gets creative

One of the more viral moments in recent Olympic history are the reactions of gymnast Aly Raisman's parents — father Rick and mother Lynn — during their daughter's routines, whether she was soaring between the uneven bars or balancing on a beam.

Family at the Olympics provides more than broadcast fodder for the viewers back home, though. The presence of that support system is often integral to the athlete not only during their hardest training days, but also on the biggest stage.

With no international spectators permitted at this summer's Tokyo Olympics (as announced by the International Olympic Committee and Tokyo organizers), Team USA athletes are confronting the reality of realizing their dreams with their most fervent supporters thousands of miles away.