Bree Masters couldn’t wait to get back into the gym.
The beach sprint world champion turned athletics star has recently come out of two weeks' isolation in her Gold Coast home after spending six weeks training in Melbourne with her boyfriend and fellow sprinter Matthew Rizzo.
The Bond University Bachelor of Communications (Business) student is now ready to throw herself at her quest to make the Tokyo 2021 Olympics.
“The 14 days in my own house has been a motivational reset for me. I’m so excited to be out running, training and back in the gym today,” Masters said.
“My partner introduced me to this whole new world of athletics and I’m absolutely loving it.
“I was losing a bit of motivation for beach sprinting, but this move and his encouragement have really sparked my love of what I do.
“It’s also been helpful going back to full-time study at Bond during the lockdown, and it has been really nice to put some focus back into university.
“I’m loving the online coursework. As an athlete, I think it is really beneficial to be online because we are constantly training and travelling, so to be able to log in from anywhere will make things a lot easier.”
Masters is no stranger to hard work.
After switching to the track, the 25-year-old quickly established herself as a genuine national quality sprinter by claiming the 100 and 200m double in Canberra, before recording a PB to win the 100m Melbourne Track Classic a month later.
The results were all the motivation she needed to give Tokyo a red-hot crack.
“I achieved a lot in my surf lifesaving career. I think I was ready to finish my degree and get straight into the workforce, but plans change,” she said.
“The qualifying time for the 100m at the Olympics is super tough. It’s 11.15 so it is another massive jump from my PB of 11.55.
“The 200 is probably a bit more achievable for the girls and there are a lot of really talented sprinters in Australia going for that spot.
“When I went away with the Australian relay squad I got to spend a lot more time with Riley Day and Jess Thornton and that calibre of athlete who has been to the Commonwealth Games and big meets -- it was really inspiring.
“It’ll be really tough to make the team, but I’m going to give it everything I’ve got.”