Kemar Bailey-Cole, Jamaica’s reigning Commonwealth champion, training partner of Usain Bolt and the man who Bolt has touted as his successor, claims he has been struggling with the Zika virus, gripping our country.
In an interview with the Gleaner, Bailey Cole stated that he didn’t know he had the virus and has been training with it for three days, only discovering the threat when his girlfriend found a bump on his neck.
It is not clear if Bailey Cole has been formally tested and diagnosed with the virus, however this is a cause for major concern, as the World Health Organization (WHO), has declared Zika a global public health emergency, but has however stated that there is no need at this time to cancel the Rio Olympics.
The athlete has been quoted as saying “I was experiencing back pains and muscle soreness, but I thought it was just soreness from the exercises I was doing. Recovering is not easy. The rashes are still on my body, my eyes hurt, but the best thing is that I am not feeling any muscle pain at the moment.”
Bailey Cole has had a lukewarm season so far and on his last outing at the Racers Grand Prix, he finished 5th in a time of 10 seconds flat.
Jah know.. that rough.