During Wade Bootes' hotel quarantine spell last month, the fine line between sporting glory and devastation lived in the rooms neighbouring the BMX cycling coach.
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On one side was Logan Martin, who had just won his second freestyle BMX world title in France to confirm he will be one Australian cycling's top medal chances at the Tokyo Olympics.
On the other side of Bootes' room was compatriot Brandon Loupos, the 2019 world champion, who should be in Tokyo as well.
But he wrenched a knee while competing at the worlds, tearing the ACL and destroying his Olympic dream.
"It was a helluva ride in the two-week (quarantine), I can tell you. That was tough," said Bootes, who is in charge of Australia's Olympic BMX team.
"My room's in the middle, I have the world champ on one side and I have the guy, who's just ... life has just ended.
"The highs and lows, sometimes they're on the same day. It's not just the training, it's the emotional side."
So while Loupos continues his rehabilitation from a knee reconstruction, Martin is now in Tokyo ready to spearhead BMX freestyle's Olympic debut.
"We have been on this journey the whole time. We've been qualifying the country and then to fall just short of the finish line, the last event, it was a massive one as well," Martin said of Loupos.
"I was on a high and he was on a massive low."
The worlds in Montpelier were their first major competition in 18 months and a dress rehearsal for Tokyo, with strict COVID-19 protocols and no crowds.
Martin was able to try out a couple of new tricks and impressed the judges.
That Brisbane hotel quarantine after returning from the worlds was time well spent, with Martin using an exercise bike and weights to work out twice a day.
"My main thing was not to relax too much in there. I didn't want to sit around for two whole weeks and come out and have to start from scratch," he said.
He wlll start competition on Saturday full of confidence, with the freestyle medals decided on Sunday.
Natalya Diehm, who was overcome four knee reconstructions, will be the Australian entrant in the women's event.
"A lot of people are asking 'what are you going to change?' Well, what I've done over the last eight years ... what's the point of changing things that work?," Martin said.
"As long as I'm riding hard, working out and focusing on what I do best, that's all I can do and there's no point in changing much."
Australian Associated Press
