Shane Lowry has opened up about his decision to pull out of this year’s Olympics over in Rio.
The golfer announced that he has pulled out of the Olympic Games because he wants to start a family, and he can’t risk being exposed to the Zika virus.
“My wife and me are newly married, we plan on starting a family, so it was a decision I felt I had to make,” he said.
Family: Shane wants to start a family with his wife, Wendy | VIPIRELAND.COM
The Offaly native admitted that he’s disappointed he won’t be playing for Ireland.
“People can believe me or they can say what they want about me, but no one wants to play for Ireland more than I do,” he revealed on the Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show on Today FM.
“To not be going down to Rio, it’s a little bit disappointing.
“But that’s just the decision I had to make.”
Risk: Shane admitted the risk is small – but it’s still a risk | TWITTER
The 29-year-old admitted that whilst there is a small risk of contracting the Zika virus, it’s still a risk.
“I know there’s a small risk, it’s only a very small risk going down to Rio, but that word is still there, that ‘risk’.
“If anything, if I’m lucky enough to have a family, if anything was ever to happen to any of my kids, and it was my fault completely, I would never live with myself.
“I spoke with people last week and that’s the decision I made and I stand by that decision and I still think it was the right one,” he added.
