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Kinseys are in this together

Erika and Dan Kinsey enjoy the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It will be different this year when Erika Kinsey, a Swedish high jumper, competes in the Tokyo Games without her husband in attendance. (Submitted photo)

AKRON — Dan Kinsey is going to have to cheer for his wife at the upcoming Summer Olympics from afar.

Erika Kinsey is representing Sweden in the women’s high jump for a second straight Olympics, but rising COVID-19 cases in Tokyo mean no fans will be in attendance.

“That’s going to be tough,” said Dan, a 2005 graduate of Beaver Local High School. “Obviously I want to go see her and support her. I understand they’re trying to minimize the risk by reducing the people.”

Erika felt she was peaking for the Olympics in 2020, but the Summer Games were postponed for a year due to the continuing coronavirus pandemic.

“For situations out of everyone’s control, the Olympics weren’t held last year,” Dan said. “She didn’t want to give up on her dream. She could have called it quits last year and I would have been fine with that. She’s had a great career. She wanted to give it another try. I don’t want her to give up on her dream and have regrets later.”

Erika was clearing 6-foot-5 before suffering an injury in November. She has struggled to get back to form and has a best of 6-foot-3 this season.

“She’s struggled with a pretty bad high ankle sprain this year,” Dan said. “It’s been a real struggle to get back and do as well as she has. She missed the whole indoor season. The indoor season gets you ready for the outdoor season.”

The Kinseys live in Akron and had been training at the University of Akron before health restrictions forced her to go to Sweden to continue her training.

“I haven’t seen Erika since January,” Dan said. “It got ridiculous in Akron with all the rules. I wasn’t allow to be there when she was training. We decided the best situation was to get her somewhere that would be good to her.”

There she has been coached by Stefan Holm, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist.

“He’s helping her out and has a little training group,” Dan said. “She was really jumping well last year. But that’s not what life is about. It’s about overcoming obstacles.”

Erika also came down with COVID-19.

“She got it when got over to Sweden,” Dan said. “She had flu symptoms for a few days.”

Dan will be seeing his wife soon. He is going to Sweden on Saturday and then they will go to France for a tune-up meet.

The Sweden track team then will go to Japan for a pre-camp south of Tokyo so athletes can get acclimated, Dan said. They will head to a staging area a few days before the competition.

The women’s high jump preliminaries will be held on Aug. 5. The finals are set for Aug. 7.

“The goal is to make the final, and if you make the final, anything can happen,” Dan said.

Dan said Erika gets tested a couple of times before every meet and then when she gets there. At the Olympics, athletes will have their temperature recorded daily and report any inconsistencies.

“My biggest fear is they get over there and a couple of people test positive and they shut everything down,” Dan said. “With her event being the last couple of days, they’re going to freak out and shut everything down.”

Nothing would be surprising with the world dealing with COVID-19.

“It’s pretty different for everybody,” Dan said. “This is going to be her last go-around with track. She’s going to finish out her season. Most of her big competitions in the Diamond League are at the end of the season.

“We’re looking to start a family. It’s difficult being one of the world’s best high jumpers and doing that.”

Olympic notes

• Dan Kinsey’s six state track places are the most in Beaver Local history, matching the mark by Paula Ferry.

“I’m sure my mom has (the medals) somewhere,” he said.

• He watched Beaver Local’s track success this season.

“Mainly because of my cousin’s kids (Kodi and Zane Kinsey),” Dan said. “They are doing really well. They have a lot of young, good athletes and should do good the next couple of years.”

• The Kinseys plan on moving into the area when Erika’s track career is over.

Dan has been working every other day at the family-owned Kinsey Sports Center in downtown East Liverpool.

“My dad’s built up a good business and I think Erika and I can keep it going,” Dan said. “Kids are coming in all day and they enjoy it.”

They work mostly with gymnastics and have a couple of karate classes now. Dan hopes to expand into other sports and strength and conditioning in the future.

Imagine an Olympic medal hanging in the front window.

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