Here & Now

Wisconsin Coach in Quarantine in Beijing

Frederica Freyberg:

Now to the story of a Wisconsin man who has a very big personal stake in the future management of coronavirus. It’s the story of Kewanee native and UW-Parkside graduate James Malechek. Malechek has been quarantined since January 27 in Beijing, China. That’s where he is the strength and performance coach for the Chinese Olympic Swim Team. He and 500 swimmers and coaching staff were in the midst of a midwinter training camp preparing for the Tokyo Olympic Games when the coronavirus outbreak began. He joins us now from his Beijing apartment in a complex where he and his athletes are gated from the outside world. James, thanks very much for joining us.

James Malechek:

My pleasure.

Frederica Freyberg:

We understand again that it has been six weeks that you have been in isolation. What has that been like?

James Malechek:

It’s been an interesting experience. Many of the athletes and coaching staff have — we’ve built kind of a bond of understanding even though we’re from completely opposite sides of the world that we have a lot more in common. It’s been a very unique experience to say the least.

Frederica Freyberg:

Have you and your fellow coaches and athletes been tested for coronavirus?

James Malechek:

Yes. We initially when we got quarantined on the 27th we had been scheduled regularly for routine checks. Since then it’s been mostly temperature checks and occasionally some blood work to make sure that everyone is still free from the coronavirus.

Frederica Freyberg:

And to date that is true, that everyone is negative.

James Malechek:

So far I’ve heard zero people within this complex have had it.

Frederica Freyberg:

So still how frightening has it been to be in China during this deadly outbreak there?

James Malechek:

It’s been fairly controlled on our end. Even before we were put into isolation, we got told make sure you aren’t going into heavily crowded areas, certain parts of the city are known for larger traffic areas. They slowly started to wean us away from those areas and then since the quarantine we haven’t had any contact with the outside sources. So to me it’s — not bad.

Frederica Freyberg:

I was going to ask what about your Chinese swimmers or staff? Do they have families that they continue to be concerned about outside the isolation that you are now living in?

James Malechek:

Several of the coaches are actually from Wuhan originally and when the outbreak happened, we were already at training camp so they weren’t allowed to go home for spring festival and see their families, which their families are still in Wuhan and still in isolation. So some of the coaches are a little worried still and have obviously concern for their loved one, their families still trapped in Wuhan.

Frederica Freyberg:

What are your concerns right now?

James Malechek:

My biggest concern is just that everyone’s safety is still kept to a high standard. We’ve been in this quarantine for so long already that to me the safety has to be top priority still. As much as we would all like to get out and have the ability to go get different food or anything like that, we still have to remember first and foremost that we’re preparing for Tokyo. That’s got to be the end goal. That means spending more time in quarantine, so be it.

Frederica Freyberg:

Are you trying to get evacuated back to the United States?

James Malechek:

I have thought about it several times since the quarantine started. Initially my concern was fairly high about getting back to the U.S. but since we’ve been in here so long I’ve seen the precautions and the cleaning routines and the consistent checkups on this end. I’m indifferent because part of me wants to go home but the other part of me looks at this and goes we’ve been here for six weeks, you have zero cases, that’s a hard number to go against in my book. So part of me does.

Frederica Freyberg:

Part of you does and part of you wants to just stay put and see it through. How concerned are your family and friends back here in Wisconsin?

James Malechek:

Not as concerned as they originally were. Once I obviously been in contact with them and just talking them through and helping them to understand the way that the situation is, they stepped up all the cleaning and all the necessary precautions from this end. To me it’s very safe on my side for the time being. Now, I am a little concerned that if we were to be let out of quarantine that we’re obviously exposed to the risk. But the risk, is worth being outside of that quarantine.

Frederica Freyberg:

James Malechek, we really appreciate you checking in and telling us about the circumstance and we hope to check in with you in the future and good luck on your coaching duties.

James Malechek:

Thank you very much.