Kierra Smith thankful athletes health and safety were considered.
Athletes like Kelowna's Kierra Smith won't be attending the summer Olympics in Tokyo.
The Canadian Olympic Committee decided to not allow athletes to attend the games over fears of the coronavirus.
"It is so relieving knowing that I can focus on staying home and staying safe with my family and staying healthy. Trying to train, I am training in a private pool that was 12 meters which wasn't realistic heading into an Olympic trials and the Olympics."
Smith participated in the 2016 Olympics in the breast stroke and isn't ruling out returning to the pool in 2024 in Paris, France.
"I am proud of being from a country that does think of its athletes as people first and athletes second and they are really taking our health and safety into consideration," Smith added.
