Reigning Olympic wrestling gold medallist Erica Wiebe instantly thought of her parents upon reading the headline.
Even the suggestion, as made by long-time IOC member Dick Pound on Wednesday, that athletes should be given priority access to COVID-19 vaccines caused her to ask, “would I want to get vaccinated before my mum and dad?
“They’re actually planning on going to Tokyo with me, and they hope to be vaccinated prior, but they’re in an at-risk population,” says the Stittsville, Ont., native. “So, if I had the choice, no I wouldn’t want to be prioritized over them.”
With her parents squarely in mind, Wiebe decided to push back against the speculation on social media by writing:
“I want to represent Canada in Tokyo. I want to continue to inspire the next generation of young boys and girls. But I need my community to be safe first and that means a measured, risk-based vaccination plan.”
