If not for the postponement of the 2020 Olympic Games, Jye Edwards may never have realised his athletic dream.
The cancellation of last year's event due to the pandemic was devastating for many athletes; for others, it provided an extra 12 months to make their national team.
For the 23-year-old 1500-metre runner, who trains in Canberra, that was exactly what it did.
He has used the past 12 months to re-write a career plagued with injuries and setbacks and claw his way closer to Olympic gold.
Olympic dream within reach
Persistent injuries have punctuated the young athlete's career.
Last year, Edwards, who grew up in Nowra on the NSW South Coast, was prevented from qualifying due to an Achilles injury.
"[But] we are finally starting to piece it together and have got a few good months of training in."
Edwards's comeback became complete yesterday when he officially qualified for the Olympic Games during the National Athletics Championship in Sydney.
He needed a win in the 1500 metres and a time of 3:35:00 to qualify – his fastest previous time was 3:35.46.
Edwards finished first just ahead of Tasmanian middle-distance star Stewart MsSwyen, with a time of 3:33:99.
"It was pretty brutal, I can't really believe it to be honest," he said.
"I just made that split-second decision to go after Stewy and I’m so happy it paid off."
COVID-19 a boost for domestic competition
Athletes who would normally travel overseas to run against the world's fastest have been forced to race in Australia in order to qualify for the games.
Edwards's coach Dick Telford said this year's crop of athletes was the strongest he had seen in 30 years of coaching, and had helped push runners like Jye beyond their limits.
"This National Championships is going to be one of the strongest ever."
Training at the top
Since his move to Canberra, Edwards said training in and around the ACT had offered new terrain which brought with it new challenges.
This included a trip to Perisher for high-altitude training.
"The theory is that when you come down to sea level with more oxygen in the air, you're better prepared to actually use that oxygen and actually run faster over distance events, including medium distance events."
Mr Telford said he admired his students who had remained dedicated to their training despite the challenges of the past 12 months.
"They get great satisfaction out of their performances," he said.
