Kei Nishikori of Japan celebrates after winning the singles bronze medal match against Rafael Nadal of Spain at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games
Julian Finney/Getty Images
Athletes around the world have been busying themselves in preparation for the resumption of live sport, with some nations allowing training complexes to open and others even giving the green light for competitive action to start.
Tokyo 2020 has been speaking to several athletes whose journey to the Olympic and Paralympic Games is slowly gathering pace.
Eilish McColgan aiming for Olympics, 30 years after mum won gold in Tokyo
Eilish McColgan of Great Britain in action in the Women's European 10,000m Cup race during the 2019 Night of the 10,000m Pbs at the Parliament Hill Athletics Track on July 06, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
When I was running around the park a man stopped me and asked me if I was a relation of Liz McColgan...
I just went out for a run one day and somebody had recognised my style because of my mum.
When Great Britain's Eilish McColgan competes at Tokyo 2020 next year, it will be exactly 30 years after her mum won World Championship 10,000 metres gold in the same city. She talked to Tokyo 2020 about her goals for the Olympics, her record-breaking family and her dreams of running the marathon at Paris 2024.
HARIMOTO Tomokazu: No regrets if I can compete with my signature backhand
Harimoto Tomokazu celebrates during the ITTF Czech Open in 2017
(c) ITTF
I believe the Olympic Games in Japan will be a once-in-a-life-time event, so I hope to be able to put on an exciting show that will encourage the spectators.
HARIMOTO Tomozaku is a teenage table tennis prodigy. He has even beaten Rio 2016 gold medallist and World Champion MA Long from the People's Republic of China. After experiencing disappointments during the 2019 season, the youngster is looking to come back stronger than ever and is aiming for a medal in front of his home crowd at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
Stefan Daniel: Inspired by a little brotherly love in Tokyo
Stefan Daniel of Canada competes in the men's triathlon in Rio 2016 Paralympic Games (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
2016 Getty Images
I give all the credit to my brother.
He doesn’t see his disability as a disability and his is more severe than mine.
If he didn’t teach me that, I wouldn’t be able to do this.
The driving force behind triathlete Stefan Daniel's quest for gold is his little brother, who has helped him achieve heights rarely seen by a Para athlete. And Tokyo 2020 is set to be the first race where Daniel would be seen by his brother compete.
NISHIKORI Kei: Representing my country gives me the strength to succeed
Kei Nishikori of Japan celebrates after winning the singles bronze medal match against Rafael Nadal of Spain at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
My love for tennis and my unceasing desire to become a better player drove me on
NISHIKORI Kei has faced countless adversities throughout his tennis career from injuries to painfully close losses but there has always been two things driving him on to continue: his love of tennis and representing Japan.
Elie Enock dreams of leading Vanuatu’s hope at Tokyo
Elie Enock of Vanuatu throws in the Women's Shot Put F57 during the IPC World Para Athletics Championships 2019 Dubai (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
2019 Getty Images
Who would have ever thought that a single mother, an amputee could attain such a dream?
At just 20, Elie Enock's life was changed forever. After becoming an amputee she became depressed and was scared to go outside. However, everything changed when she discovered Para sport.
