Billie Jean King will not be able to attend the Olympic opening ceremony in Sochi, opting instead to tend to her sick mother, according to the Associated Press.
“It is important for me to be with my mother and my brother at this difficult time,” King said. “I want to thank President Obama for including me in this historic mission and I look forward to supporting our athletes as they compete in Sochi.”
Former U.S. women’s hockey player Caitlin Cahow will take King’s place in Sochi. Cahow was originally scheduled to be part of the Olympic delegation that President Barack Obama said “speaks for itself.”
The former tennis star was concerned that her presence among the Olympic delegation might take attention away from the athletes, but she won’t be able to make it after all.