Slightly lagging behind their main contenders in the race for the two American spots at the upcoming Olympics, Tri Bourne and Trevor Crabb are still confident that if they stay focused on their current goals, they will get to follow their Olympic dream and compete at Tokyo 2020 this summer. And their immediate to-do list includes two items: win Sochi, win Ostrava.
Immediately after claiming a tense three-set victory over Germany’s Nils Ehlers and Lars Fluggen in their first pool match at the Sochi 4-star on the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour, the 31-year-old athletes took a few minutes to speak to Volleyball World.
What is your take on the race for the American quota, a key question on the road to Tokyo to be answered within the next 10 days?
Tri Bourne: “It’s been a long process. There is a lot that has gone into it. Right now, we are just focused on this moment, one point at a time. We know it’s coming to an end, so we are just focusing on doing what we do and we’ve trained to do. We’ve been going for Tokyo for three years now. So now is no different, just a different step in the process. That’s been the goal this whole time.”
You, Trevor, in particular, are competing for a spot at Tokyo 2020 with your younger brother Taylor. That must be an interesting feeling to share with the rest of us?
Trevor Crabb: “It obviously makes it a little extra special being able to have that race with your own brother. It would be nice if both of us can make the Olympics, obviously, but it could just come down to one of us. We are not just looking at them. Right now we are just trying to focus on ourselves, take it one match at a time, do our best in each game and keep it simple. That’s pretty much it.”
So when you watched your brother playing earlier, were you like, ‘I hope they lose! I hope they lose!’?
Trevor Crabb (with an enigmatic smile): “Yes! Maybe...”
Well, at least one member of your family will be at the Olympics, right?
Trevor Crabb: “Exactly! That’s good!”
What would you consider a successful season for you, if you, hypothetically, do not make it to the Olympics?
Tri Bourne: “I don’t know if I want to think about that yet. We are just focusing on the positive, so I am going to stay away from thinking about that.”
Tri BourneWhat are your immediate goals for the tournaments here in Sochi and next week in Ostrava?
Trevor Crabb: “Win it! Win this tournament and then try to win Ostrava. That’s the goal. That will definitely take us to Tokyo.”
What do you think your team’s strong weapon in this race is?
Tri Bourne: “The work that we’ve put in. We’ve put in a great body of work that we can fully trust and rely on at this point in the race when the pressure’s on.”
In terms of probabilities, how confident are you that you will play at Tokyo?
Trevor Crabb: “100 per cent.”
Trevor CrabbQuick links:
FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour - Sochi
Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
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