Stephan was in peak condition for the event scheduled to begin in July, after winning gold in the coxless four at the World Rowing Championships in August.

Stephan said it was jarring to have to recalculate her build-up to the Olympics, but was remaining optimistic amid the chaos.

"It's a lot to take in and digest," she said.

"I'm feeling okay - whether it has actually sunk in or not yet is another question.

"But this is for the best. It's not right for us to go to the Olympics right now.

"Right now the health and safety of the world is our number one priority."

Stephan was based out of Rowing Australia's home in Penrith, New South Wales, but said she would now return to Victoria to live with her partner in Nagambie.

During the coronavirus lockdown, Stephan was hopeful she could continue her training on the water and with gym exercises inside, but said it would be difficult to optimise training without her teammates.

Stephan said a tumultuous build-up to the Olympics felt somewhat familiar, after she was a last-minute inclusion for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

"I didn't qualify initially, then two weeks before it started, I found out I was going because of the Russians and the drug scandal," she said

"The first thought I had (this time) was, 'Can't I just have a normal run into the Olympics? This is ridiculous.'

"But I have to look at it like, it's more time to become even faster and become even better.

"I was ready to go to the Olympics and ready to go win a gold medal, but that's not to say I won't be ready in 18 months time as well.

"It's surreal at the moment, but hopefully we come out the other side, we do get to go to the Olympics, and we can celebrate the world, sport and the community."

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