Not all athletes were able to prolong their careers until next summer like Hong Kong track cyclist Sarah Lee Wai-sze and fencer Cheung Siu-lun. Some notable stars, headed by China’s Lin Dan and rower British Tom Ransley will now miss out on the 2020 Tokyo Games that have been pushed back a year because of the coronavirus pandemic. In spite of his advancing years, 36-year-old Lin was still targeting a record fifth Olympic appearance in Tokyo this summer. But soon after IOC took the decision to postpone the Games in March, the two-time Olympic champion decided to call time on his glittering career of almost two decades. It was sad to read Lin declare: “Although I went through four Olympic Games, I have never thought of leaving the courts … No one can be young forever but there will always some new brave youngsters coming up with great passion and moving the sport forward.” China badminton hero Lin Dan calls it quits after 20 years Lin, who made the announcement earlier this month, said he would be looking for a new battlefield as life moved on. Ransley, 34, was all set to be part of the men’s eight defending Britain’s Olympic title in Tokyo this summer, but the postponement of the Games has signalled the end of his career. “My time as a rower is up. After 20 years and two Olympic medals, I have come to the realisation I have nothing more to give and nothing left to gain,” he said. “I have to hang up the oar and I am coming to terms with understanding why. The rescheduling of the Tokyo Olympics to 2021 gave finality to my decision.” Badminton doubles specialist Mathias Boe of Denmark still wanted to give a go at the Tokyo Games as recently as February. But the 2012 London Games silver medallist and 2016 Thomas Cup team gold medal winner decided to retire as a professional at the age of 39. He revealed that, mentally, he is simply too exhausted, both in training and competition, to continue. Coronavirus latest: Tokyo Olympics delayed; Singapore shuts bars In table tennis, Matilda Ekholm of Sweden also bid farewell to her career at the age of 38. She featured in the 2016 Rio Olympics where she finished 17th in the women’s singles. The Swedish number one intended to attempt another Olympics in Tokyo before retiring. But after the decision was made to push back the Games, she announced in April that she would bring an end to her career, which saw her win a silver medal in the mixed doubles at the 2016 European Championships. These athletes might still be able to find a new career after missing out on the Tokyo Olympic Games. But not all can. For up-and-coming French climber Luce Douady, there will never be another shot at the Olympics after missing out on Tokyo. After winning a number of youth events, Douady moved on to senior competition. And at 15, she made her debut appearance on the IFSC Boulder World Cup circuit, finishing fifth. Bouldering requires competitors to climb fixed routes within a specified time limit. It will be one of the disciplines when sports climbing makes its debut at next year's rescheduled Tokyo Olympics. But in June, the future bouldering star, only 16, died after falling from a cliff in south-eastern France, as she was heading to an unexplored sector of a cliff near Grenoble.