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Lawrence North grad, Olympic medalist reacts to postponement of 2020 games

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 19: Bronze medalist Ashley Spencer of the United States, poses on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Women's 400m Hurdles on Day 14 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 19, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Former Lawrence North track star Ashley Spencer was gearing up for a return trip to the Olympics this summer in Tokyo.

USA’s Ashley Spencer celebrates winning the bronze in the Women’s 400m Hurdles Final during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 18, 2016. / AFP / Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images)

Four years ago in Rio de Janeiro, Spencer earned a bronze medal in the 400m hurdles. With the Tokyo Olympic Games postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Spencer said she understands why the decision had to be made, and she is already looking ahead to the possibilities next year might bring.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 16: Ashley Spencer of the United States (C) competes during the Women’s 400m Hurdles Semifinals on Day 11 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 16, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

“What I’m getting excited about is that the world is now going to be waiting on the Tokyo 2021 Olympics and it’s going to be very exciting to be a part of and to watch,” Spencer told News 8’s Charlie Clifford. “We have family, coaches, physical therapists, the volunteers. It’s a lot of people involved with the Olympic games.”

SACRAMENTO, CA – JUNE 23: Ashley Spencer clears a hurdle in the Women’s 400 Meter Hurdles during Day 2 of the 2017 USA Track & Field Championships at Hornet Satdium on June 23, 2017 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Spencer added that even though the Olympics are off the table this year, other events remain a possibility.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 18: Dalilah Muhammad of the United States, Sara Slott Petersen of Denmark, and Ashley Spencer of the United States compete in the Women’s 400m Hurdles Final on Day 13 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 18, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

“There’s still potential for a USA Championships,” Spencer said. “So although the Olympics are postponed, there are still things that track athletes have in the fire right now, so I’m training as much as I can and lifting and preparing for the later half of this season.”

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 18: Ashley Spencer of the United States celebrates winning bronze in the Women’s 400m Hurdles Final on Day 13 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 18, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)