This personal reflection is part of a series called Turning Points, in which writers explore what critical moments from this year might mean for the year ahead. You can read more by visiting the Turning Points series page.
Turning Point: The 2020 Tokyo Olympics, delayed by the coronavirus pandemic until 2021, provided an opening for important conversations about the pressures that athletes experience.
My dream was to defend my titles in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. I won gold in the women’s 800-meter competition in both 2012 and 2016.