Patrizia Kummer, an unvaccinated Swiss snowboarder who participated in the Olympics in Beijing on Tuesday following a three-week quarantine, claimed she had “no difficulties” and didn’t “care what others thought” of her.
Athletes who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 can immediately join the “closed loop” bubble system during the Beijing Games, while those who have not been vaccinated must remain in a hotel for a 21-day quarantine period before competing.
Kummer advanced beyond the first round of the women’s parallel giant slalom on Tuesday, but was eliminated in the round of 16.
She asserted after her first round performance that despite being in quarantine, she had been able to complete “very fantastic” training.
“During quarantine, I performed more speed training like leaping and everything — you can do it anywhere, you don’t need much room,” Kummer, who won gold in Sochi in 2014, explained.
“Everything is in your brain – you can perform well when you are mentally prepared, and I was.”
Kummer stated that having the vaccination “wasn’t the greatest” option for her and that she was “pleased” to go through the quarantine period.
She claims that after 17 or 18 days in quarantine, she was permitted to practise on the slopes before returning to her room for the remaining three weeks.
Kummer stated that she did not have “an opinion about anyone else” regarding the immunisation and did not care what others thought of her situation.
“If someone else has an opinion, they can have it – it’s their free will,” the 34-year-old remarked.
“Everyone must make their own decision.” Nobody is in my body, therefore who thinks they can make decisions for me?”
Novak Djokovic, the unvaccinated tennis great, was banned from Australia last month due to his immunisation status, preventing him from defending his Australian Open title.
