TOKYO — On Friday, for the first time that anyone could recall, 17-year-old Casey Kaufhold participated in an archery competition without at least one of her parents watching and cheering her on.
It just happened to be at the Olympics.
“It’s a little sad,” the Lancaster, Pa. native said, not that it impacted her performance. In the qualification round, she finished 17th, part of a U.S. women’s team that came in a strong third overall.
Still, this wasn’t just a bit surreal, it was without precedent.
Due to COVID-19, the Japanese government first banned all international travelers to the Tokyo Olympics and then barred even local fans from attending competitions.