CONWAY, S.C. - Coastal Carolina's Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Sandy Fowler was given a huge opportunity when she was selected to be an assistant coach for Team USA at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Former Olympic head coaches and other world championship coaches came together to go through applications to select the official Team USA coaching staff and Fowler was recommended and selected to the team.  
 
"I thought it was pretty crazy," Fowler said when she first heard the news. "I had done a previous Olympics in 2000 and it's rare that you get a second opportunity like this."  
 
While attending any Olympics is monumental, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was different than any other Olympics before. Many restrictions were put in place with the COVID-19 pandemic. Once landing in Tokyo, Team USA stayed in the airport for six hours to file for accreditation for the village and the games and received a COVID test. Once they arrived in the Olympic Village, they received another COVID test and would continue to be tested every day until they left. Once athletes were done with their events, they were sent back home. Some were only there for a week.  
 
"We were not allowed to use public transportation or walk outside the village. We were pretty much in lockdown in the village," said Fowler.  
 
The USA OPC House was the only venue athletes and coaches could go to outside the village. This facility was unique to Team USA and no other country had a place like it. They were able to train and eat homecooked meals in this venue anytime during the games. Most athletes went there and stayed until it closed at 8 p.m. each night. Teams were also allowed to meet with athletes from other countries within the village.  
 
Fowler recalled one of her favorite experiences at the games. "My shot-putter, Raven Saunders, won the silver medal and was so elated. Her mother passed away two days later at a watch party in Orlando. We found out she was originally from South Carolina and a group of us went over and supported her there."  
 
The 2020 Toyko Olympics was a unique and strange event, one we may never see again. The athletes showed up and overcame the pressure and beat records. Team USA brought home 26 medals just in track & field alone and beat China by one, earning the most medals overall.  
"There will probably be nothing like this ever again. To be a part of this is just history." Fowler states. 

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