With the possibility that the rescheduled Olympic Games may not go ahead in the summer of 2021, gymnast Rhys McClenaghan is accentuating the positives amid a lot of uncertainty, while adding that it's okay to have a 'bad day'.
McCleneghan, like so many competitors across a range of disciplines, is training away by himself in this world where coronavirus has taken such a grip.
The standard question is to ask how one his coping? For the 2018 European Championships gold medallist, his chosen discipline it would seem is allowing him to do more during the lockdown.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport, he said: "I'm coping the best I can really and trying to do as much training as I can. It is challenging of course, but the good thing about gymnastics training is that it's mostly body weight training and I can do all that stuff in my house.
"I feel quite bad for the other athletes like swimmers who really need their swimming pool. I feel great to be at home training and still maintain my fitness."
McCleneghan, after taking home a bronze at last year's World Championships, was obviously targetting a medal at Tokyo this summer but now feels the extra year's preparation will be a benefit, that's assuming the Games go ahead.
"I know I'll be in better shape come July 2021, will have a better routine and be closer to that gold medal than ever," he predicted.
"It was a relief the Games were postponed because of all the uncertainty in the lead up to the announcement, but up until that very day I was training for the Olympics.
"When the announcement came I had to make some mental adjustments as well as physical adjustments to my programme. I needed to make the changes to make next year work.
"Hopefully it goes ahead, look it's the case of everything right now, it's just constant uncertainty throughout the world.I don't think they will say 100 percent it will definitely happen, because nothing right now is definitely going to happen. Everybody is in the same boat, every business and every company.
"The good thing about me is that I'm very young, I'm only 20. I've got loads of time. They could delay it another year and I'll still be ready for it. If it's in two months' time I'll still be ready."
Today was a bad day. I was not motivated, making excuses in my head, and doubting myself. It was 9pm and a friend called. She asked if I was doing training today. I came up with a lame excuse and continued to say it's too late to train now.
— Rhys Mcclenaghan (@McClenaghanRhys) April 18, 2020
A week ago, the Co Down competitor tweeted about a day where his motivation was down, where a lame excuse was forthcoming, and where finally he got the jolt to produce as he said: "one of the best sessions in isolation yet".
McClenaghan explained: "Social media is a positive platform but it's a place where everybody shows their perfect lives, the best part of their lives.
"If I can show people that I'm having a bad day a lot of people can relate to that if they are also having a bad day. It's not the end of the world to have one bad day, as long as you can pick yourself up. Regaining the motivation can be a very positive thing.
She brought up some harsh realities and told me to get off my ass. I put on some rap music and had one of the best sessions in isolation yet... surround yourself with people that will push you further. My mentality is on another level now 💪🏼
— Rhys Mcclenaghan (@McClenaghanRhys) April 18, 2020
"On that day I got a call from a friend at 9pm and she told me to get off my butt and work hard because there are many others working hard.
"After that, you can't wait to get back to more training, you'll be more motivated than ever and to see Irish athletes talking like that is a very nice thing."
