Jamaican track and field star and Olympic gold medalist Kemar Bailey-Cole has announced that he will still participate in the 2016 Olympic trials in his country next week even after being tested positive for Zika virus.
Bailey-Cole discovered that he has the virus when his girlfriend noticed a bump in his neck, which turns out to be a swollen lymph node. The discovery was made while Bailey-Cole is training for the JAAA/Supreme Ventures National Senior Championships. This is the Jamaica's Olympic trial where he will be competing with six-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, Yohan Blake Nickel Ashmeade, and Jason Livermore.
"I was experiencing back pains and muscle soreness, but I thought it was just soreness from the exercises I was doing," Bailey-Cole told Jamaica Gleaner. "It is very disappointing but as I said earlier, I was training with it and didn't know, so I still got in some work but not how I wanted it. (I am) just going to trials with the mindset that I am healthy and ready."
Bailey-Cole ran along with the legendary Usain Bolt to win the gold medal in the 4x100 relay sprint in the London Olympics in 2012 and the world championships in 2013. In 2015, Bailey-Cole misses much of the competition due to Chikungunya virus. He also suffered an injury in his hamstring while competing at the London Anniversary games.
However, Bailey-Cole doesn't want to allow any injury or virus deter his efforts to represent his country in world and Olympic competitions, promising to pour everything he got despite the issue.
"Yes, I am a little worried (about preparation), but I am not letting that get in front of me. I am just praying that I get the strength to carry me through the rounds," Bailey added. "Recovering is not easy because as we speak, 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.
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