Tokyo Olympics: Why THIS Spanish swimmer had to leave breastfeeding son at home

Ona Carbonell had initially been told she could not take Kai with her as athletes’ families could not travel with them, but after seeing other athletes describing their distress at having to choose between the event and their infants she and her coach petitioned the International Olympic Committee.

Spanish synchronised swimmer Ona Carbonell has said she is disappointed and disillusioned that she cannot take her breastfeeding son with her to the Olympics, because her family would be subject to such drastic restrictions in Japan. Her husband and son Kai, who is nearly one, would have to stay in quarantine in a separate hotel and would not be able to leave their room for the 20 or so days she would be in Japan, she said on her Instagram page. “For me to go and breastfeed Kai whenever he needs it during the day I would have to leave the Olympic villa, the team`s bubble, and go to the hotel, risking my team’s health.” “I had to make a really tough decision ... because the Japanese government`s impositions are not compatible with my athletic performance and being with my family at the same time,” Carbonell said.