Two tournaments remain. That’s it. In an Olympic qualification period that seemed it may never actually come to an end, only two tournaments are left on the calendar: Sochi, Russia; and Ostrava, Czech Republic.
And they are not cheap.
Of the Chasing Gold athletes who have already purchased their tickets from LAX to Sochi, Sochi to Ostrava, Ostrava back to LAX, the average cost is $4,500. This does not include food, coaching, and hotel rooms, all of which will push that already-astronomical number higher.
But it’s necessary, that cost. As is every other penny spent throughout this Olympic qualification period. Putting down the credit card and going, for two straight years – in this case, because of COVID, make that three – is what beach volleyball players must do to pursue the Olympics. To qualify for the Olympics, athletes must compete in a minimum of 12 FIVB events throughout the Olympic qualification period. Many of the American athletes have competed in a minimum of 20.
This is the exact reason Chasing Gold was formed: To alleviate the mounting financial burden of our aspiring Olympians. In this case, Chasing Gold has six athletes left who are still in the Olympic race: Sarah Sponcil and Kelly Claes, Kelley Kolinske and Emily Stockman, and Tri Bourne and Trevor Crabb. Another athlete under the Chasing Gold umbrella, Bill Kolinske, is making the same travel, for even if he’s out of the Tokyo race, guess what’s coming immediately behind it?
But that’s down the road. The future.
For now, we must focus on getting our athletes to Sochi and Ostrava and back home again. We must focus on the final two events that will make the difference between qualifying and not, between pushing for a medal in Tokyo or resetting the goals to Paris.
For now, our focus is on the only two tournaments remaining.
