Olympic hopefuls Stewart McSweyn and Brett Robinson say priority COVID-19 vaccinations for athletes is wrong

As Australian cricketers push to jump the queue for the COVID-19 vaccine, a pair of track stars say elite athletes should get in line with everyone else.

Olympics-bound athletes and best mates Stewart McSweyn and Brett Robinson say their colleagues should join the queue for a COVID-19 vaccine like everyone else. Picture: AAP

The push for priority vaccinations for sports teams has been met with a firm negative by two of Australia’s leading runners.

While the Australian cricket team is asking to jump the queue for the COVID-19 vaccinations ahead of next month’s South African tour, there is no such push from Australia’s track and field team members for the Tokyo Olympics.

Middle-distance star Stewart McSweyn said there were others who should have priority ahead of athletes.

“It’s a hard one because at the end of the day we are a sport and there are a lot of people who deserve to get the vaccine before us,” he said.

“If we fall in line after the most important people get it then yeah I think we should get it.

“I saw they have started vaccines so hopefully it means we are not too far away in regards to the Olympics but I don’t think we should jump the queue.”

McSweyn and Robinson say others are more in need of the vaccine than athletes and cricketers. Picture: AAP

McSweyn was an interested observer at Tuesday night’s Zatopek:10 at Box Hill after winning the last three editions of the race.

He has already qualified in three events for the Olympics – 10,000m, 5000m and 1500m – so instead he took up the role of cheerleader for his Melbourne Track Club teammate Brett Robinson who shared his view on the vaccination debate.

“I saw this with the cricket, I don’t think so as there are bigger things to worry about than a running race,” Robinson said.

“There are people dying, so just so we can do a running race … I don’t think we should get priority at all.”

Robinson, 29, won his second Zatopek crown, seven years after his first.

The Victorian took over early in the race and was never challenged, clocking 28min00.25sec to just miss a new career best.

Running machine Brett Robinson is taking a stand. Picture: Anita Welsh

Despite winning the national title the Victorian will focus on the marathon at the Tokyo Olympics.

“I’m qualified in the marathon for the Olympics, that’s what I’m doing at the moment and that’s what I will be best in,” Robinson said.

He admitted that the uncertainty over whether the Olympics would go ahead in July was causing problems throughout the track and field community.

“I think some athletes are definitely struggling with the unknown and can lose motivation,” Robinson said.

“We will see what happens and I’d be disappointed if it got cancelled but I just want to know soon.”

A rising star announced herself in the women’s Zatopek:10 with 21-year-old Rose Davies claiming the biggest win of her career.

In a thrilling finish Davies kicked over the final lap to secure victory in a personal best 31min39.97sec from South Australia’s Isobel Batt-Doyle (31:43.26sec).

“That was my first big win,” she said. “I’ve had a couple of seconds so it was nice to come out on top.”

Originally published as Olympic hopefuls Stewart McSweyn and Brett Robinson say priority COVID-19 vaccinations for athletes is wrong