Even with Tokyo being in a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic, unvaccinated Olympic swimmer Michael Andrew is refusing to wear a mask during meetings with the press.
In the Tokyo playbook of COVID-19 protocols, as stated by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee in June, athletes are not required to wear a mask during interviews.
However, every other athlete has worn their masks except for Andrew.
According to USA Today, Michael Andrew is labeled the "highest profile unvaccinated American Olympian" out of the 103 unvaccinated athletes participating in the games this year.
He refused to wear a mask when entering the mixed zone after a fifth place in the men's 200-meter on Friday morning.
Michael Andrew, the highest profile unvaccinated American Olympian, refused to wear a mask in the mixed zone. Every other US swimmer I\u2019ve seen all week has worn one.pic.twitter.com/xwVFJGpkmL— Christine Brennan (@Christine Brennan) 1627613041
When asked why he wasn't wearing a mask, Andrew said:
"For me it's pretty hard to breathe in after kind of sacrificing my body in the water, so I feel like my health is a little more tied to being able to breathe than protecting what's coming out of my mouth."
"I think it's great that there's procedures, but at the end of the day, all of us here have been under quarantine and in the same testing protocol, so there's a level of safety (that's) comfortable when we're racing."
He was then asked again why he refused to wear a mask, but his reply changed.
"No reason. I'll throw it on when I'm done here, but to speak, it's difficult, probably people can't hear me."
Earlier in July, Andrew said to the media he was unsure of how his body would react to the vaccine and he didn't want to interrupt his training for the games. Though, he also said he doesn't plan on getting it in the "distant" future either.
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee is reviewing Andrew's refusal to wear a mask.
They sent this comment to USA Today after seeing their tweet:
"Not wearing a mask is a violation of the COVID mitigation protocols put in place by both the USOPC and TOCOG (the Tokyo Olympic organizers)—protocols we have been adamant in following as a delegation."
"We are currently reviewing this matter with the National Governing Body and will take action as needed."
However, the USOPC then backtracked saying Andrew "has been reminded of the Games policy and established COVID mitigation protocols" but will not be required to wear a mask during interviews.
Though the USOPC didn't have much else to say, Twitter sure had a lot of comments.
*squints* he also refused to wear a medal\u2026\n\nOh wait\u2026— \u2728JoChi is an OLYMPIC SILVER MEDALIST!\u2728 (@\u2728JoChi is an OLYMPIC SILVER MEDALIST!\u2728) 1627613356
pic.twitter.com/Ybhk16lJ06— Tom Patterson (@Tom Patterson) 1627613564
Some people just beg for COVID to come get them. He deserves whatever happens, but the people around him do not. He should be sent home. The Japanese people deserve the courtesy of athletes following safety rules and so do his fellow Olympians. Lives are at stake.— Pam (@Pam) 1627615527
where is the outrage and criticism here. He should not have been allowed to compete once he refused to follow thew rules.— DJD (@DJD) 1627613945
He should not be allowed to compete until he follows the health protocols— Kyle Swanson MD (@Kyle Swanson MD) 1627622870
Cool so I hate this man I've never heard of before, that's fun— m!a j merr!ll (@m!a j merr!ll) 1627613389
He shouldn\u2019t be in Tokyo— SUE HALL\ud83d\udc3e\ud83d\udc3e\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6\ud83e\udd4c\u26f3\ufe0f (@SUE HALL\ud83d\udc3e\ud83d\udc3e\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6\ud83e\udd4c\u26f3\ufe0f) 1627613504
will he be fined for not following safety protocols and putting others at risk because it is your right to not get vaccinated or wear a mask but if you do that then it is other people's and company's rights to not let you be involved in things or around them— Santania Alington (@Santania Alington) 1627615283
Refused the vaccine, refused to swim the last 50m— Autumn H-B (@Autumn H-B) 1627631886
He likely won\u2019t quarantine when he returns either.— Jill I Dippman, BA \ud83c\udfe1\ud83d\ude37\ud83d\udc89\ud83d\udc89 (@Jill I Dippman, BA \ud83c\udfe1\ud83d\ude37\ud83d\udc89\ud83d\udc89) 1627632557
Nothing screams I\u2019m a massive as*hole like being the highest profile unvaccinated. He\u2019s Covid\u2019s favorite Olympian.— InvisiBelle (@InvisiBelle) 1627633156
It seems there is no end to controversy over the Tokyo Olympics.
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