Kraig Devlin of Victoria 颅realizes the rarity of his Olympic moment and is cherishing it all the more in Tokyo because of it.
Karate is included in the 2020 Summer Games on a one-time basis because of its historic connection to Japan. With the martial sports judo, Taekwondo, wrestling and boxing already regulars on the Olympic agenda, it is unlikely karate will be included again after Tokyo. So, karate鈥檚 Games debut today is also its swan song.
鈥淚t鈥檚 unique and cool 鈥� our own Olympics in Japan,鈥� said Devlin, high-performance 颅director and team leader of the Canadian Olympic karate squad in Tokyo.
Actually, it鈥檚 a one-competitor team with 2019 Lima Pan Am Games silver-medallist Daniel Gaysinsky of Ontario the lone Canadian qualifier, and who opens this morning in the men鈥檚 75-kilo kumite division.
Devlin and Gaysinsky have a tight bond and Devlin has brought him out to Victoria several times to instruct Island youth.
鈥淒aniel is awesome with kids and loves to coach,鈥� said Devlin.
The two were together in Paris in June for the dramatic last-chance Olympic 颅qualifier, Gaysinsky on the mat and 颅Devlin coaching from the chair. 颅Gaysinsky qualified for Tokyo, but only after a foul against him was reversed after video review, following an official protest lodged by Devlin challenging the foul call.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a roller-coaster but Daniel is resilient and talented,鈥� said Devlin, a 27-year veteran of the Saanich Fire Department.
鈥淚t is a testament to 颅Daniel we are [in] Tokyo. We 颅definitely believe he is a podium 颅contender.鈥�
And in comfortable conditions in hot and humid Tokyo.
鈥淎t least we鈥檙e not competing outside like soccer, rugby and track,鈥� said Devlin, head coach of the Varsity Performance Karate Club in Saanich.
Devlin is hoping the Olympic exposure, as fleeting as it will be, will help karate grow across sa国际传媒.
鈥淚 started in the sport in Victoria in 1984, became sa国际传媒 coach and then moved on to the national team, so it鈥檚 been a 颅natural progression,鈥� he said.
Now it鈥檚 led to the Olympics. Even if it鈥檚 a one-off, it鈥檚 an opportunity Devlin said he is appreciative of, and for which he feels a sense of responsibility, considering the circumstances of the pandemic.
鈥淲e want to keep the 颅Japanese public safe because they are shouldering the whole Olympics,鈥� said Devlin.
鈥淭he COC has been incredibly organized in that regard with a huge logistical support team. We feel very prepared, in terms of protocols,鈥�
More than 75 Island or Island-based athletes are competing in the Tokyo Olympics and Tokyo Paralympics to follow this month. Devlin is among the nearly 20 coaches, team leaders, medical and support staff from the Island in Tokyo.
