NEWCASTLE'S Sam Fricker will simply be going from one COVID bubble to another.
The 19-year-old Olympic rookie departs Australia on Thursday bound for Tokyo, joining the rest of his diving teammates in the Games village.
Although on debut at the international sporting event Fricker, who will contest the men's 10 metre platform, has become somewhat accustomed to a lifestyle determined by coronavirus restrictions.
"I'm in this bubble now and there will be a bubble over there," Fricker said.
"It's just the cards we've been dealt and it's about making the best of that."
Now based in Sydney, having first dived at Lambton Pool almost a decade ago, Fricker describes the last few weeks under lockdown in the state capital like a "mini training camp" with sessions at Homebush and time at home essentially the only things on his agenda.
He says the disruption has almost been a blessing in disguise for preparation ahead of a maiden Olympics.
"It messed up our approach a little bit, but it's actually been not too bad," Fricker said.
"It feels like a mini training camp, I'm going to training and coming home and nowhere else.
"All around me places I thought about going came up as hotspots. So I've stayed at home and gone to training. That's all I'm doing, to and from the pool."
Cassiel Rousseau claimed the national title in the men's 10m platform.
Merewether-raised Fricker, who also runs an eco-straw business, hits the water on August 6 for the preliminary rounds.
Semis and a final take place the next day.
He is one of 19 athletes from the Hunter region represented across 14 sports in Tokyo.
Almost half of that contingent will be in action on the opening three days of competition, which follows the opening ceremony on July 23.
Hockey duo Matt Dawson and Mariah Williams, shooter Dan Repacholi, rower Spencer Turrin, surfer Julian Wilson, water polo pair Richie Campbell and Nathan Dawson as well as triathlete Aaron Royle kick start Olympic campaigns across Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Matildas midfielder Emily van Egmond continues her second Games with Australia meeting Sweden on Saturday after opening against New Zealand on Wednesday night.
