UNITED WE STAND
Looking back at early 2020, we can now say it was a lesson in resilience. No sooner had we recovered from that summer’s catastrophic bushfire season then Covid swept the globe, shuttering borders, forcing lockdowns, and eventually postponing the world’s largest community sporting event: the Olympic Games.
In its 125-year history, the Games has only ever been cancelled due to World Wars and the news came as a devastating blow to Australia’s athletes – men and women who had trained for countless hours, battled injuries, and made huge personal sacrifices all in the hope of proudly representing their country.
As we rejoin the other 205 nations and regions bound for Tokyo, it’s time for our athletes to step up and perform. But more importantly, it’s also time for us watching at home to unite behind our sporting heroes and rising stars like never before.
The adage goes that nothing unites people like sport, so in partnership with Sportscraft, the official formal uniform supplier of our Olympic team, Vogue wants to spread this message that we are stronger together. Here we’ve selected eight athletes who each have an inspiring story to tell about overcoming adversity, optimism and – above all – passion. They serve as a powerful reminder of not only the dedication and sacrifice needed to chase an Olympic dream, but the strength of the Australian spirit.
Jye Edwards, 23, athletics
If Tokyo had gone ahead
