Editor’s note: This story was originally written in May 2022.
Sports have been a part of Victoria Franklin’s daily regime for as long as she can remember. She grew up playing competitive soccer in Brisbane, Australia and was recruited to take her talents to the NCAA Division I level at Southern Methodist University. She decided to join the women’s rowing team and live out her dreams as an NCAA Division I student-athlete.
In early 2020, Franklin’s everyday routine was disrupted again when COVID-19 cases skyrocketed across the United States. Classrooms bustling with energy turned into digital squares on Zoom and NCAA sports were abruptly halted.