Merced athlete’s Olympic dream put on hold, due to global coronavirus pandemic
.jpg "Madilyn “Bubba” Nickles celebrates while rounding the bases after hitting a home run against Oklahoma during the 2019 College World Series. Nickles is one of 15 players selected for the 2020 Olympic Softball Team.")
In three days, Madilyn “Bubba” Nickles was scheduled to rejoin her Team USA Women’s National Softball Team in Alabama as they began their third leg of the 2020 Olympic team’s “Stand With Her Tour.”
However, the tour, which included games against college teams across the country, was postponed weeks ago and players were sent home because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
On Tuesday morning, the Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach agreed to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Olympics until 2021.
That means Nickles’ Olympic dream will be put on hold for a year.
“I was actually anticipating it,” Nickles said. “We’ve been hearing things. The team was sent home early from the our tour. The health and safety of the country is in such a sensitive place. They told us to be home with our loved ones and try to stay away from everyone, as crazy as that sounds.”
Nickles, 22, is the youngest player on the 15-member Olympic Softball Team. She’s one of three college players chosen for the team.
The former Merced High star and Gatorade National Player of the Year helped lead UCLA to the national championship in 2019. Nickles was named to the all-tournament team at the College World Series.
“I’m upset, but I’m not devastated,” Nickles said. “This has been building up. The International Olympic Committee had said canceling the Olympics was not an option. There is so much work and time invested into the Olympic games. It would be a historic tragedy if the games were canceled.
“I think they made the right call to postpone it for a year. The athletes can’t train at all. It’s tough to train by yourself outside.”
Nickles is currently at home with her parents.
“I’m definitely trying to stay active,” she said. “For one thing it helps keep me sane. It also keeps me in shape and healthy. I’m definitely trying to be cautious. My mom is a pharmacist, so she’s coming into contact with sick people every day who are trying to get medicine. So me and my dad are trying to stay quarantined in the house.”
Nickles said she has enjoyed the short time she’s been able to spend with Team USA.
“It’s been quite an experience in the short time we’ve been together,” Nickles said. “I feel like we’ve gone through a lot. We played 20 something games in a month and a half. That’s a lot of games in a short time. We’ve definitely gone through some trials and challenges. I’m the youngest on the team and my teammates are so independent. They’ve taught me how to be very independent and disciplined.”
This story was originally published March 25, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
