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Rediff.com  » Sports » Olympic medallist Vonn will watch Rio Games from home

Olympic medallist Vonn will watch Rio Games from home

July 14, 2016 14:52 IST
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Lindsey Vonn

IMAGE: Olympian Lindsey Vonn, left, with her friends. Photograph: Instagram.

Olympic gold medallist Lindsey Vonn has been spotted wearing eye-catching attire, and attending award functions.

Recently the former Olympian relaxed with her girlfriends in Los Angeles, after revealing that she would not be attending the Summer Olympics in Rio.

The 31-year-old alpine ski racer posted a picture onto Instagram titled 'LA Girls' as she partied with her friends.

"I was going to, but I think with the Zika and everything, it's probably just better that I watch from home," Vonn, 31, told PEOPLE. 

The athletes have mixed feelings about health concerns at this year's games. Vonn's concerns about the Zika virus have been shared by other Olympians.

"Some people are [nervous], some people aren't," she says. "Definitely some sports are more at risk than others, but for the most part, all the Olympians are pretty excited about Rio despite everything. I think they're doing the best job they can to keep it safe for everyone, and I think it's going to be fine." 

Lindsey Vonn

IMAGE: Lindsey Vonn of the US Alpine Ski Team. Photograph: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images.

Vonn said that had her Olympics taken place in Rio, she would have to give some thought to whether or not she would participate. 

"I'm not sure, honestly, what I would decide," she says. "I think I would still go, but that would definitely be in the back of my mind throughout the entire two weeks of the games. It's definitely tough for the athletes, for sure." 

A number of big names have also withdrawn because of virus. Controversy over the August 5-21 Games has grown as more about Zika becomes known.

The mosquito-borne virus can cause crippling birth defects and, in adults, has been linked to the neurological disorder Guillain-Barre.

Last week, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that the Games did not need to be moved or postponed because there is "a very low risk" that holding the event in Brazil will cause further spread of the virus.

An expert WHO panel on Zika concluded that staging the event during the Brazilian winter means the mosquito population will be smaller and intensified mosquito-control measures in place around venues "should further reduce the risk of transmission".

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