Zika virus won’t scare Olympians
NO AMOUNT of risk could intimidate taekwondo jin Kirstie Elaine Alora and Ian Lariba of table tennis from reaching their Olympic dream.
Despite the brewing health and security issues that hound the coming Rio de Janeiro Olympics, Alora and Lariba said they won’t be distracted in their preparations.
“I’m focused on giving my best, so I’m not really thinking about it,” said Alora during yesterday’s Philippine Sportwriters Association (PSA) Forum at Shakey’s Malate.
Alora and Lariba are among the six Filipino athletes officially confirmed so far for the Rio Olympics. The others are boxers Rogen Ladon and Charly Suarez, hurdler Eric Cray and long jumper Marestella Torres.
“Right now, I’m too busy on improving my game,” said Lariba, one of four UAAP Athletes of the Year.
Aside from the Zika virus, a daylight robbery was reported by Spain’s Olympic gold medalist Fernando Echavarri, who said he and two fellow Spaniards were fortunate to have escaped after being robbed at gunpoint.
