Newcastle swimmer Thomas Fraser-Holmes has been trying to stay "positive" amid the global coronavirus pandemic and his now prolonged Games bid.

COVID-19 has seen the Tokyo event moved back 12 months, with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announcing this week a rescheduled start date of July 23, 2021.

Despite the unexpected change in plans Fraser-Holmes, now aged 28 and based on the Gold Coast, remains focused on making a third Games appearance next year.

"It just gives you an opportunity to get on top of things," Fraser-Holmes said.

"From my perspective, Ill get more time to train and get more competitions under my belt. You've got to take those positive aspects out of this and just rethink how you do it all."

Fraser-Holmes, who represented the Australian Olympic team at London 2012 and Rio 2016, returned to the Dolphins squad at last year's World Championships having served a 12-month ban for missing drug tests.

Even though his comeback to the sport and personal sporting ambitions have been put on hold, the Novocastrian fully supported the call to delay the Games for a much greater good.

"I don't know if relief is the right word [for Olympics being postponed], but I think it gave us a bit more clarity," Fraser-Holmes said.

"It's one of those things when life is more important than sporting events.

"They [the IOC] have definitely done the right thing to postpone the Olympics.

"The sooner we get on top of this coronavirus the better. What's 12 months anyway? Hopefully this helps somehow."

Fraser-Holmes, aiming for selection in the men's 400 metre individual medley, anticipated the revised Swimming Australia (SA) calendar would stay the same next year with Olympic trials around five weeks out from the Games.

"Everything will just get pushed back 12 months," he said.

Fraser-Holmes, who lives at Varsity Lakes and trains at Griffith University, applauded the communication Australian swimmers have received from the national governing body.

"They [SA] have been really up front with everything and from the very first day we couldn't train they've kept us up to date," he said.

With pools out of action, Fraser-Holmes has been trying to keep fit at home.

His down time has featured Newcastle's famed 1997 rugby league decider: "If you watch that and don't have a tear in your eye you're not a true Novocastrian".

He recently received well wishes from his old Hunter coach Shane Arnold.

Fraser-Holmes' fiance is Swedish swimmer Jessica Eriksson, who is awaiting updates on the postponed European Championships.

Meanwhile, Newcastle swimmers Meg Bailey, who represented Australia at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and Tristan Hollard, who took part in the recent International Swim League, are striving for Olympic debuts in Tokyo.

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