With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Olympic Training In The Age Of Social Distancing: Table Tennis, Anyone?
Lily Zhang is a six-time national champion in table tennis. She was hoping to earn the U.S. its first ever medal in the sport this summer at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, but its now been postponed until next year. (Courtesy of Lily Zhang)
()
The Olympics have officially been postponed until 2021. But while it’s still unclear what it will take for officials to put the games off another year, one thing is certain: athletes who’ve spent their lives preparing for these games still want to compete — whenever it happens.
Lily Zhang is one of them. A six-time national champion in table tennis, Zhang was hoping to earn the U.S. its first ever medal in the sport. She qualified for the Tokyo games last month, and had been training for the games overseas when she got the news about the U.S. travel ban on European countries.
"I bought a ticket home as soon as I heard about the travel ban. I think everyone’s in the same boat right now. No one can really find the right conditions to train. In that sense, I’m not too worried, because I feel like we’re all in the same situation."
Zhang joined Take Two’s A Martinez. You can hear more of their conversation here about whether it’s OK to play table tennis while socially distancing, and how she feels about President Trump using the term “Chinese virus.”
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care. -
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases.
Best of LAist