Coronavirus Dealing: Olympic Medalist turns into a delivery boy for extra cash and fitness

New Delhi : Tokyo Olympics have been delayed by a year amid coronavirus pandemic crisis, following which Japanese fencer Riyo Miyake decided to take up the delivery boy job to maintain his fitness while earning some extra cash.

Miyake, who won the team silver at the London Games in 2012, was looking forward to the home Summer Games but as the ongoing health crisis has tipped the normal life upside down globally, uncertainty shrouds every sphere of life.

“I started this for two reasons — to save money for travelling (to future competitions) and to keep myself in physical shape,” Miyake told news agency AFP.

“I see how much I am earning on the phone, but the number is not just money for me. It’s a score to keep me going. I don’t know when I can resume training or when the next tournament will take place. I don’t even know if I can keep up my mental condition or motivation for another year,” he added.

He did not take the decision because he was in the financial crisis, but because he wanted to utilize the situation in a better way. In fact, when Olympics got delayed he gave up all his sponsorships.

“No one knows how the qualification process will go. Pretending everything is OK for the competition is simply irresponsible,” the 29-year-old said.

Working as a delivery man for Tokyo UberEats, Miyake is looking at the positive side saying it’s helping him remain fit as he travels across the length and breadth of the city on a bike.

“When I get orders in the hilly Akasaka, Roppongi (downtown) district, it becomes good training,” he said.