RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — During a time when everyone is feeling the effects of COVID-19, student-athletes at the high school and collegiate level are no different.
8News’ Sports Anchor Natalie Kalibat, a former Division 1 athlete, says before she jumped in front of a camera as a sports reporter, she was jumping into pools. Her hard work earned her a scholarship and a spot on the Swim and Dive Team at the University of Southern California.
For years, Kalibat had the same routine. Speaking to 8News evening anchor Constance Jones, Kalibat revealed, “I would have two-a-day practices. So, I would start bright and early, wet hair, going to class, going back to practice, getting wet again, then going back to class.”
During her college career, Kalibat’s team at USC won its first-ever PAC-12 Championships. She also won the 2012 United States Olympic Trials for Synchronized Diving.
Kalibat told Jones she sees herself in the student-athletes she interviews. It’s why she sympathizes with many competitors whose careers are on hold as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I think they are feeling a lot of anxiety,” Kalibat said. “I think this is a time where athletes may feel lost.”
Kalibat offers some words of advice for young athletes, trying to cope with the pandemic. “Find other athletes that you can talk to,” she said. “This is a hard time.”
Nowadays, Kalibat is never too far away from the pool. She serves as both a mentor and a diving broadcast analyst. She told 8News she hopes others can use the downtime to re-evaluate their sports goals.
“Focus on what you can control,” Kalibat said. “That’s just ourselves right now.”
- The more contagious COVID-19 variant first reported in the U.K. will likely become the predominant strain in the U.S. by March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.
- Virginia is reporting yet another huge spike in the number of new cases of COVID-19. Saturday's report from the Virginia Department of Health indicated 6,757 new cases. For Sunday, the number of new cases rose to 9,914.
- GRTC said the 50th employee to test positive for the virus was last at work on Jan. 9. The employee has public-facing duties and is quarantined at home.
- A caravan for prison justice was organized on Saturday afternoon by the Virginia Prison Justice Network to demand Governor Ralph Northam for change in prisoner care during the pandemic.
- As people fall ill with COVID-19, they often lose their senses of smell and taste. For some, it takes months for those senses to come back — long after their other symptoms are gone.
- With the assistance received, RRHA has been able to continue housing more than 1,100 families — equating to more than 3,200 household members.
- Virginia is reporting a huge spike in the number of new cases and deaths. After reporting just over 4,700 new cases on Friday, Virginia Department of Health is reporting 6,757 new cases and 50 new deaths on Saturday.
- The state has ordered the emergency suspension of a Rhode Island doctor's license after an investigation uncovered he "recklessly" exposed his patients and staff to COVID-19.
- The CDC said it is about 50% more contagious than the virus that is causing the bulk of cases in this country so far.
- New Jersey made millions of people eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine, including smokers, a move that prompted gripes about them skipping to the front of the inoculation line.
