'I just want to hug my family': Aussie softballer shares frustration over 28-day quarantine in South Australia

Lachlan McKirdy

'I just want to hug my family': Aussie softballer shares frustration over 28-day quarantine in South Australia image

Australian softballer Bel White has shared her frustrations after being the first South Australian athlete to return to the state and be forced into the newly mandated 28-day quarantine for Tokyo 2020 athletes returning through Sydney.

White was part of the Aussie Spirit team who have spent the last 14 days in quarantine after competing at the Tokyo Olympics. 

The squad was based in Sydney and were allowed out of isolation on Thursday morning. 

However, it was confirmed by the South Australian government on Wednesday that White and 15 other members of the Australian Olympic Team quarantining in Sydney would be forced to quarantine for another 14 days on arrival in South Australia

For White, this meant an extra fortnight by herself in her Adelaide home.  

After arriving home in South Australia on Thursday morning, White reflected on the journey that now sees her by herself for another 14 days. 

She says it's a "slap in the face" to the athletes affected after they've given up everything to compete for their country. 

"Obviously it's disappointing and such a shock to hear that I have to do quarantine again at home especially after following all the protocols and everything they've required of us," White told media on Thursday. 

"It is disappointing. I do understand a little bit of why I have to but it is definitely not what I expected and a bit of a shock to the system, I hadn't prepared for 28 days of this. 

"I feel like everyone's journey is a little bit different. You need to take into account what people have been through prior. I've been COVID tested for the last 10 weeks every single day, temperature tested. 

"I'm trying to stay as positive as I can in the situation because I know there are people who are worse off. But it is disappointing, I represent my country and I feel it's a bit of a slap in the face towards the end of this journey."

The athletes had no choice over where they were returning to in Australia. 

The Australian Olympic Committee stated on Thursday that the South Australian government only confirmed the double quarantine decision on July 29th. 

At the time that decision was made, the softball team was already in the air on a flight from Singapore to Sydney. 

The hardest part for White is set to be not seeing her family for another 14 days.

A larger squad of the softball team travelled to Japan on June 1. The Olympic squad was only then named out of that group. It meant White has still not been able to share the joy around her Olympic debut with her friends and family. 

"I can't see my family or friends and when our team was selected I was in Japan so I haven't been able to share this with any of my family, friends or people who have helped me along the way," White said. 

"From that side of it, that's the hardest part is not being able to hug anyone or see anyone.

"Emotionally, that's a trigger point for me. Hopefully, over the next couple of days, I'll have lots of phone calls and be able to settle into iso in Adelaide. 

"I'm really close with my parents and I know it has been just as hard on them as it has with me. They couldn't get with Japan to watch me in my first Olympics. 

"They ride that emotional journey with us. Hopefully, I'll be able to give them a hug in 14 days or less than that would be an ideal outcome."

White has also had to inform her workplace in South Australia, a window furnishing company, that she will not be able to return to work as planned on Monday. 

She is concerned that while her workplace has been extremely supportive of her athletic endeavours, the pressures of the COVID pandemic could change their situation. As a result, she wants to return as soon as possible. 

Thankfully for White, not all her days will be spent cleaning and unpacking. Her parents dropped off her new puppy on Thursday morning and will keep her occupied for the next 14 days.

Although, she is hopeful that the AOC and the South Australian government will be able to reach an agreement to get her out of the house sooner. 

"I got a puppy, I bought one in Sydney and my parents picked it up for me. My parents picked it up for me and dropped it off today so it's good timing I guess. I've got something to play with for a while," White said. 

"The Olympics were amazing but it just takes away a little bit from the excitement and experience, having to do all this afterwards. It adds to an already long journey for us. 

"You can get through a week, you can clean the house, do the washing and stuff like that. If they came to me and said tomorrow I could be out that would mean everything. 

"I just want to be able to hug my family.

"It's been such a long journey and they've been on this journey for the last 12 years so not to be able to see them or give them a cuddle to say thank you if I could do that tomorrow that would be amazing."

 

Lachlan McKirdy

Lachlan McKirdy Photo