RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – After months of dire predictions from abroad about the mosquito-borne Zika virus, some Brazilian fans are doing some stinging of their own: They’re booing U.S. athletes and taunting them over the fears that kept some competitors at home.
From the beach volleyball arena to the soccer stadium, boisterous Brazilian fans are having fun with what had been one of the biggest concerns heading into South America’s first Olympics.
The mockery began during the first game by the U.S. women’s soccer team, when veteran goalkeeper Hope Solo was greeted by chants of “Zika! Zika!” every time she touched the ball. The jeers were heard again Saturday during a 1-0 U.S. victory over France.
Solo, who irked Brazilians before coming to the Olympics by tweeting a photo of herself wearing a hat with mosquito netting and sporting a giant bottle of bug repellent, might seem an easy target.
Lauren Fendrick and Brooke Sweat didn’t stir any controversy, or even make any comments about the virus, in the run-up to their match Sunday in women’s volleyball. All the same, the two Olympic newcomers got rousing jeers of “Zika” from fans in bright green and yellow Brazilian jerseys every time they served against Poland.