Greg Rutherford's partner Susie Verrill has revealed that the athlete has had his sperm frozen amid fears over the Zika virus. The couple have one son together and in a blog post for the Standard Issue, Susie said that she and Greg would love to have more children in the future.
She also revealed that her gold medallist partner will be heading to the 2016 Rio Olympics alone, while she and her son Milo remain in the UK.
"The Zika news has caused no end of concern if we're totally honest," wrote Susie. "We're not ones to worry unnecessarily, but after more than 100 medical experts stressed the Games should be moved to prevent the disease from spreading, this was a huge factor in us choosing to stay put."
© Photo: RexSusie Verrill isn't going to Rio with her partner Greg Rutherford
"We've also made the decision to have Greg's sperm frozen," she revealed. "We'd love to have more children and with research in its infancy, I wouldn't want to put myself in a situation which could have been prevented.
"Specialists still also don't know the ins and outs of Zika, so even though it looks as though there's no real issues should Milo get bitten, it's just another thing we don't want to chance."
© Photo: HELLO!"We'd love to have more children," revealed Susie
The mosquito-borne Zika virus, which has been linked to birth defects in babies born in South America, has been declared a global public health emergency by the World Health Organization.
More than 150 scientists have called for the Games to be moved to another location, but organisers have rejected their request.
© Photo: Rex"We've also made the decision to have Greg's sperm frozen," she wrote
Susie concluded her post by saying that many people react with surprise when she says she isn't heading to Rio, but she will be supporting Greg nonetheless.
"Come August, Greg will be travelling to Rio to undertake a job and I'll be staying at home," she wrote. "No less supportive than I'd be if I was there with him and with all our loved ones who also want him to succeed... Good luck to my favourite: win or lose, I still won't change the locks."
Cyclist Tejay van Garderen and golfers Vijay Singh and Marc Leishman are among the athletes who have said they will not compete at the Olympics because of Zika.
