The Coronavirus pandemic has forced the world of sports into a standstill and as a consequence, has significantly impacted the ability of athletes to earn a living.

For those athletes who are not sponsored the situation becomes dire because they can only earn by competing.

Among that group is Jamaica’s Schillonie Calvert, who is in Arizona in the United States preparing for the Olympic Games that have been pushed back a year until the summer of 2021. However, so far this season there have been no meets, which means she is unable to earn.

Unable to earn or return to Jamaica because of global travel restrictions, the 2012 London Olympics sprint-relay silver medalist has expressed concern over the circumstances.

“I’m worried because I’m not sure how long this pandemic will last. If you don’t have an income and you have to pay, you have to be worried as an individual, not only as an athlete,” said Calvert during an interview with the 12News channel in Arizona.

 “If your federation don't step in to kind of support you, at the end of the day you don’t have any earnings. Think of us, Jamaica, we are third-world. Regardless of how we look at it and think we are important because we have done the country well and we have put the country out there on a global stage, they have to put whatever resources or whatever monetary funds into their healthcare."

Despite the challenges, Calvert, who turns 32 in July, remains hopeful she will make it through this challenging period and be ready for the Olympics in 2021.

“I’m still passionate about the sport. I’m still enjoying everything that I do, so I don’t think I’m going to walk away for now,” she said.

Calvert was also a member of Jamaica's sprint relay team that won gold at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow.

She missed out on the 2016 Olympics in Rio because of injury.