Sebastian Coe, president of the International Athletics Federation World Athletics, comments on the change in the Olympic qualifiers in a press release.
- Many of the major marathon races have been canceled or postponed, and the pandemic makes it more difficult to predict whether the races planned during the first half of 2021 will be implemented. That, combined with the fact that many marathon runners and walkers are given opportunities to perform at the highest level, also limits their chances of qualifying for the Olympics if we do not make this adjustment, says Coe.
"My plan is firm"Swedish marathon runner David Nilsson, however, sits quietly in the boat despite the new message from World Athletics.
- For me, it does not matter much. As I understand it, when it comes to qualifying for placement, it is still only possible from 1 December. So my plan is fixed and I will not throw in any more mara in September, October or November due to this change, Nilsson says to SVT Sport.
- This change has probably taken place so that as many elite runners as possible will have a chance to qualify during the London Marathon in October, which has still not been canceled. Many other competitions have been canceled, he continues.
David Nilsson's plan to reach a time that qualifies for the Olympics is further ahead.
- I am aiming for the Valencia Marathon in early December, which I hope will be over, and there are a few months left. It feels like one of the safer cards to have a marathon in 2020, says Nilsson, who competes for Högby IF.
David Nilsson's personal record is 2.10.09, also a Swedish record, he set in Valencia in 2019.