Judoka Shohei Ono is taking the challenge of the unprecedented one-year Olympic postponement due to the coronavirus pandemic in his stride as he prepares to defend his 73-kg title on home soil next summer in Tokyo.
"I'll save my energy until the time comes," Ono said in a phone interview Tuesday. "This time allows me to change and evolve so I'm thinking of it as a plus."
The three-time world champion remains optimistic amid the global crisis as he deals with the same kind of interruptions being experienced by athletes around the world.