Rory McIlroy slammed as a coward after pulling out of Rio Olympics over Zika virus fears
Northern Ireland's world No4 golfer blasted by sports stars and Twitterati but insists 'low risk' of infection is not worth taking
RORY McILROY has been branded a “coward” in a furious backlash against his decision to miss the Rio Olympics.
The world No 4 pulled out of representing Ireland this summer amid fears about the Zika virus.
And the storm of criticism over his withdrawal was led by Irish boxer Darren O’Neill, who carried the Irish flag at the closing ceremony at London 2012 but narrowly failed to qualify this time.
O’Neill fumed: “I have cried tears and spilled blood in trying to qualify for Rio. This affirms my opinion — we are better off without him
“It is a kick for all of us who would give anything and everything to qualify.
“He may not have grown up dreaming of representing his country in the Olympics the way a lot of us have, but how can you pass up the chance to represent your country? That seems strange to me.”
O’Neill’s sentiments were echoed in a social media onslaught, with one Twitter user calling McIlroy a “coward”.
Leticia de Araujo holds one-month-old daughter Manuelly, born with microcephaly after mum was cruelly exposed to the Zika virus during her pregnancy
There were also suggestions McIlroy, 27, would not have skipped the event if he was being paid to compete. Another Twitter message said: “These guys don’t roll out of bed for less than a million, do they?”
McIlroy had expressed reservations about competing in Rio — when golf will return to the Olympics for the first time since 1904 — saying he and fiancee Erica Stoll are thinking about starting a family in the next few years.
And yesterday he issued a statement saying: “My health and my family’s health comes before anything else.
“Even though the risk of infection from the Zika virus is considered low, it is a risk nonetheless and a risk I am unwilling to take.”
But the four-time Major winner was criticised for not taking the same precaution as reigning Olympic long jump champion Greg Rutherford.
He has had a sample of his sperm frozen in case he does contract the virus, which has been linked to birth defects.
Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Vijay Singh have already pulled out of the Games — and rumours were rife last night that Australia’s world No 1 Jason Day would be the next to withdraw.
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