Rory McIlroy will not being going to Rio for the Olympics and Irish sports fans are up in arms.
Most of us get excited for the Olympics about a day before the quad-annual event begins. We become instant experts on hammer tosses, high jumps and that sport where you fling a baton and streamer around.
It is the biggest sporting bandwagon on the planet and we better win medals or else.
Medals matter and that is why were were horrified when Billy Walsh headed to America, Katie Taylor lost her first fight since 2011 and followed it up with another. It’s why we cared about losing a showjumping spot due to some berk running out on the course and complained when Bertram Allen was snubbed by Horse Sport Ireland.
So, when news broke this morning that Rory McIlroy would not be competing in Rio due to Zika virus fears, Irish sports fans took to Twitter to let the Holywood native have it.
Irish boxer and Olympian Darren O’Neill, who missed out on qualification for Rio 2016 yesterday, reacted strongly:
I have cried tears & spilled blood in trying to qualify for Rio. This affirms my opinions. We are better w/o him!! https://t.co/kzjxKQfKFr
— Darren O'Neill OLY (@DarrenONeillOLY) June 22, 2016
There were claims that his supporting Northern Ireland at Euro 2016 changed his mind
https://twitter.com/midas1888/status/745547090281955328
Some tweets went below the belt
Be ace if Rory McIlroy gets his head squashed in a vice, the soft frightened of tiny heads get
— Dave (@Guinnessta) June 22, 2016
Rory McIlroy has withdrawn from Rio Olympic Games due to concerns over Zika Virus. Hahaha coward….
— Aleckie Ronald (@SirAlexas) June 22, 2016
Rory McIlroy… What the fuckin fuck???😂😂😂😂😂😂… Zika virus indeed.. Do you intend getting up the duff while you're over there??
— Alex Reilly (@alexbhoy88) June 22, 2016
Others felt it was a (no) monetary decision
Now Rory McIlroy pulls out of #Rio2016 these blokes really don't roll out of bed for less then a few million don't they.
— Murray Conallin (@MConallin) June 22, 2016
Then the jokes started
Rory McIlroy has pulled out of the British Open in Scotland due to concerns that they get a lot of the Flu up there.
— Sean O' Donovan (@henriksen1) June 22, 2016
British long jumper Greg Rutherford froze his sperm before Olympics. Nothing wrong with an #IceIceBaby #RoryMcIlroy
— Aoife Bannon (@aoifeban) June 22, 2016
https://twitter.com/LeanIago/status/745550524020203521
Expect this to run longer than the Olympics themselves.
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