Warner keen to compete in full Paris stadium after Tokyo's pandemic Olympics

MANCHESTER, England : Damian Warner is excited about the party atmosphere that undoubtedly awaits him at Paris 2024 three years after he captured Olympic decathlon gold in a Tokyo stadium eerily absent of fans amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Canadian's Olympic journey played out like a Hollywood movie. Pandemic lockdowns forced him to train in the months leading up to Tokyo in a run-down ice hockey arena. His team brought in space heaters, built a jumping pit and throwing circle and laid down a 60-metre track, but many days were so cold he lost feeling in his fingers.

His preparation for Paris has been a breeze in comparison.

"Yeah, that was an interesting year. There was so much stuff that was going to be different, like no fans in the stands, the whole isolation stuff and (COVID) tests every day," Warner told Reuters.

"I think the energy in the (Paris) stadium is going to be the best of my career. People are excited to get back out there, and with it in Paris, which is already such a travel destination, it's going to be very high energy," he added. "I'm looking forward to getting into an environment like that again, and having some fun and competing."

Paris will be the 34-year-old's fourth Olympics - he won bronze in 2016 and was fifth in 2012 - and he has competed at numerous world championships, capturing four world outdoor medals.

"Scheduling causes a lot of problems for people, but I've been able to deal with that," Warner said of the benefits of experience.

"Adverse weather is a big issue and I've been able to deal with that. But then also the pressure, dealing with the media, dealing with the Athletes' Village and how not to get burnt out, I've been able to go through those situations so I can handle those things