Zika not going to forestall by John O'Brien

Neo Jieshi took up jogging as a means to keep healthy for basketball and whilst the Singaporean human sources manager secured a wonder Rio Olympics marathon berth, even the spectre of the Zika virus is not likely to prevent her from pleasant a dream.

Neo's transformation from university a laugh runner to Olympic athlete was finished closing December whilst she completed tenth inside the Singapore Marathon, simply on the reduce line for computerized qualification based on the race's IAAF Gold Label repute.

"It became a entire surprise and definitely sudden," the marginally-built 30-12 months-vintage instructed Reuters as element-time runners jogged by on the training tune surrounding the countrywide Stadium.

"I didn't even recognize about the qualifying preferred so it changed into a shock whilst i used to be told I had secured an Olympic berth," brought Neo, who at present is Singapore's most effective girl runner sure for Rio.

"A neighborhood athlete knowledgeable me I had executed sufficient to go to Rio and that i obtained confirmation in January after Singapore Athletics contacted the IAAF to make certain I had qualified."

Neo has increased her education under a newly appointed country wide educate with the intention of improving her non-public first-rate time of 3 hours, 09.57 seconds but is in particular seeking to "learn all i will from elite athletes and soak up the atmosphere" on the Aug 5-21 Rio Olympics.

Neo has completed extra than 15 marathons due to the fact that walking her first nine years ago, even taking component in the bomb-blighted 2013 Boston Marathon, and is completely dedicated to being on the start line in Rio despite the emergence of the Zika virus.