Sara Algotsson Ostholt broke through when she took the silver at the London 2012 Olympics. Four years later she was in Rio de Janeiro.

She had set her sights on a third straight Olympics. Then the tragedy happened when she lost two top horses. On a Polish highway, Chacco's Crack burned inside and Arpertina died of the suites after the fire in the horse transport.

Despite the horrific accident last spring, she did not want to give up hope of the Olympics. This summer, Germany-based Algotsson Ostholt took over nine-year-old Chicuelo, which national teammate Niklas Lindbäck had previously ridden. But because of the spread of the coronavirus, virtually all competitions are canceled during March, April and May - and that had consequences.

The chance to qualify for an Olympics this summer was extremely small - and getting a place in the federation captain Fredrik Bergendorff's team was therefore minimal.

-I saw it as an impossibility to qualify for an Olympics this summer, she tells TT.

"Time has been very scarce"

That is why Sara Algotsson Ostholt welcomes the decision to move the Olympics forward.

-For me personally it is advantageous. Time has been very scarce to get to the level I want to be at to be able to perform at an Olympics. We have had a development during the winter, but an Olympics next year is for its part only positive.

- Then maybe I can be competitive. Now maybe I could have helped a team, but I'm happy to be at an Olympics to be able to perform individually as well.

One question is how it is with the agony of an advanced Olympics.

-In fact, the current Olympics year and the year before, but now that the Olympics are moved forward one year? I don't know, but they always want fresh results and equipage that keeps the right level. Reasonably this year and next year should also apply when the Olympics are moved forward, says Algotsson Ostholt.

Cannot exercise properly

When her bet, both in training and competition, against Tokyo can take off, she does not know. As the situation is now, the Swedish field competition star can't even train her horses properly. The restrictions in Germany are tough.

-All sports facilities are closed. You can only train one by one, no coaches can come in from outside. You cannot ride and train your horses.

TT: How do you do then?

-The training goes on a low-key in solitude. But given everyone who is vulnerable, it is an I-country problem, she says.