OLDS — Although her dream of qualifying for the 2024 Olympics in Paris didn’t pan out for Olds throwing athlete and coach Rachel Andres, she hasn’t given up her goal of international glory; just changed the kind of competition.
Andres says she’s now working on qualifying for the world athletic championships, to be held Sept. 13-21, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan.
Andres competed during the Canadian Olympic trials and nationals, which were held simultaneously June 27-30 in Montreal.
“I ended up 67th in the world when I needed to be top 32,” she wrote in an email.
Andres said her season so far has been plagued by bad weather as well as some ill health while competing in B.C.
Not only did she endure lots of rain and cold, but she also suffered from food poisoning and motion sickness, then a norovirus that was going around in B.C.
“(During) my major meets in June in British Columbia, I was sick five out of six days there and lost 11 pounds,” she wrote. “I competed, barely able to stand, not sure how I was spinning.
“Additionally, the weather was bad and it was pouring rain for the biggest competition and cold for the other.”
Andres said an advantage of going for the worlds now is that the qualifying period runs until the end of July, which should provide a chance for better weather. She’ll be competing in smaller Canadian meets, too.
Unfortunately, the wet weather continued when Andres competed in the Olympic trials in Montreal.
“So while I had fully recovered and was throwing really well leading up to the competition, the actual competition went poorly in the wet and slick discus ring,” Andres wrote.
“I fought hard against all the hurdles in my path this first part of the season, but it wasn’t enough to get me to Paris.”
Part 2 of her season starts season July 12-14 with provincials in Sherwood Park.
Andres plans to skip other big meets Canada, other than the nationals, and compete in American competitions instead.
