Flynn’s fitness eyes opened by Australia’s approach to it

ONE would hardly think that there is a global pandemic ongoing looking at the TV images from the Southern Hemisphere, but Athlone IT sports science student Adam Flynn, who was working in Australia when Covid-19 hit, says the country was strong in its approach to tackling the pandemic and that it is now reaping dividends.

“Australia did lockdown fairly quick (in March 2020),” recalls Flynn, “although there weren’t many cases in Australia when it locked down. While I know most countries did lock down, one of the main differences I saw was that the sanctions for breaking the lockdown were a lot stricter over there.

“I think when you have stricter sanctions, people are less likely to go down to the shop to get one or two bits and risk spreading it. As well as that, they had free Covid testing centres everywhere. So, if you felt you had it, or even if you didn’t know you had it and wanted to get tested, because some people could be asymptomatic, you could pop in and get a test.”

The short-term pain has led to long term gain in Australia with a level of normality resuming. No wonder Craughwell native Flynn, having returned to complete his final year of study at Athlone IT last September, is envious.

“If I’d realised that the course was going to be online, I would have stayed in Australia,” says the sports science student. “I was on campus twice or three times in the first semester and we haven’t been on it at all this semester. So, if I realised that, I would have done it online from out there. I don’t really regret it, either. Hopefully, things will open up again soon.”

In all, Flynn spent almost two years in Australia, eight months of which was working under Christian Woodford of Woodford Sports Science Consulting in Melbourne. “He works with all levels of athletes, focusing on their physical preparation for the game,” he says.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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