Serena Williams thinks athletes skipping out on the Olympics because of the Zika virus are missing an incredible experience.
“I think it is sad,” she told USA Today.
“But at the same time I obviously understand where they’re coming from and how they feel. Part of me feels that way, too, which is why I’m going in, you know, with a whole mindset of how do I protect myself, how do I prevent and also raise awareness for this.”
Williams’ declaration came Tuesday as No. 1 golfer Jason Day announced he wouldn’t compete in Rio this summer.
Jason Day backs out of Olympics: Zika virus is ‘the sole reason’
“The sole reason for my decision is my concerns about the possible transmission of the Zika virus and the potential risks that it may present to my wife’s future pregnancies and to future members of our family,” Day said in a statement. “I have always placed my family in front of everything else in my life.”
Day joins almost a dozen other athletes who will stay home this summer, including cyclist Tejay van Garderen and golfer Rory McIlroy, over Zika fears.
Williams has competed in three Olympics, taking home gold in doubles at the 2000 Sydney games and the 2008 Beijing games and two old medals at London in 2012 in singles and doubles.
“I think for me, the most important thing is knowledge and protection, to know what I’m going into,” she said. “It is really one of the best experiences that I’ve ever had. It’s difficult for someone that is in a sport like golf because their main goal, like tennis, is to win Slams.”
Rory McIlroy, citing Zika outbreak, backs out of Olympics
“My experience has been really amazing at the Olympics,” Williams told USA Today. “I really loved going out there and competing, really just, you know, standing out there and being an Olympic athlete.”
