An Olympic fencing champion, who is hoping to double his gold medal tally next year in Tokyo, has become a delivery rider to earn some money during the pandemic.

Venezuela's Ruben Limardo trains five times a week at his fencing studio in his adopted hometown of Lodz, Poland before jumping on his bike to deliver food to customers in the afternoon.

"Because of the pandemic, there are no competitions, some sponsors say they will pay us again after the new year and it is also a crisis in our country [Venezuela]. So we have to earn money in the streets," Limardo said. 

"I can't work all day because I'm training. For example, I can earn between 400 and 500 zlotys [$104 and $130] a week," he added.

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The 35-year-old moved to Poland 19 years ago, with encouragement from his uncle, to further his fencing career in an economically thriving nation.

He also created a foundation for other Venezuelan fencers looking to make it to the Olympics. Now there are 21 members of country's national fencing team living in the town of Lodz, all of whom are currently delivering food to earn some extra money.

"I come from a family that has never been rich and over there [in Venezuela] there are many children who have dreams. That's why I created this foundation [in Poland for Venezuelan fencers] to help young people who want to go far in fencing," Limardo explained.

Limardo became the first Latin American fencer to win Olympic gold since 1904 when he claimed victory at London's 2012 Games. He also became the second Venezuelan Olympic gold medallist in history, 44 years after boxer Francisco Rodriguez.

His focus is now on winning gold at next year's delayed Tokyo Olympics to break more records.

"Epee fencing is such a tough discipline that no one has yet won two Olympic gold medals in individual competition. I'm fighting for it because I want to be the first in history, as a Venezuelan, to do it," He added. 

Video editing: Terry Wilson