Australia’s Olympic squad has been rocked by a optimistic Covid-19 take a look at after flying into Beijing airport forward of the 2022 Winter Video games.
The Australian Olympic Committee confirmed on Sunday that an unidentified group member was quickly isolating after testing optimistic on arrival at and was awaiting a second take a look at.
The opening ceremony will get the Video games underway on Friday night time – with the Aussies arriving in Beijing from their northern hemisphere coaching and competitors areas during the last week.
‘We’ve had an arrival within the final 24 hours and we now have had a optimistic take a look at on the airport,’ stated Australian group chef de mission Geoff Lipshut from Beijing.
Athletes arriving in Beijing must endure common Covid assessments (pictured: a lady at Beijing Capital Worldwide Airport forward of the 2022 Winter Olympics)
The Beijing Winter Olympics begins on Friday with one Australian group member returning a optimistic Covid take a look at after flying in (pictured: a road set up in Beijing)
‘I can’t share the group member’s title proper now however we’re following the method together with required permission to share the medical data of the person.
‘It is a concern however it is just the primary take a look at.’
If the confirmatory take a look at can be optimistic the group member should transfer to an isolation facility, or to hospital if symptomatic.
The second take a look at will decide whether or not the optimistic take a look at got here from a brand new an infection or viral fragments remaining from a earlier an infection.
The Australians are already down one squad member with alpine skier Madi Hoffman to overlook the Video games after struggling a critical knee harm.
The 21-year-old has vowed to combat again after being dominated out attributable to an ACL knee harm incurred when competing within the US simply days out from the Video games.
Hoffman gained’t get replaced within the Australian group, which now drops to 43 athletes.
Lipshut stated it was very disappointing for Hoffman to undergo an harm so near the Video games.
‘Madi had been having a unbelievable season and earned her Olympic choice. She is a superb alpine expertise and this isn’t the tip of her Olympic story,’ Lipshut stated.
Alpine skier Madi Hoffman (pictured) is unable to compete in her occasion after a knee harm at an occasion within the US simply days after she was named within the squad
‘I do know it is a devastating second for any younger athlete, however Madi has the energy and assist community to come back again from this forward of Milan Cortina 2026.’
Hoffman shared her disappointment on-line, however vowed to be again on the slopes quickly.
‘I suppose that is how my cookie crumbles…I tore my ACL racing the Utah Invitational after getting named to the Olympic group. The universe simply gave me a reasonably large kick within the intestine however alas, ski racing I’ll see you quickly,’ stated Hoffman.
In the meantime, snowboard cross racer Cam Bolton warmed up for Beijing with a bronze medal within the Cortina World Cup
Chosen for his third Olympics Bolton was delighted to podium for the primary time this season.
‘Actually glad to come back away with a podium and end in third, and construct some momentum coming into the Video games,’ stated the 31-year-old from Melbourne.
Hoffman, 21, competed within the Alpine Ski World Cup Girls’s Slalom in November (pictured)
‘I’m actually trying ahead to the chance to race in China in a few weeks and feeling good on a snowboard and may’t wait to get amongst it with all of the boys and put down some quick laps.’
Beijing Video games organisers introduced 34 new COVID-19 instances had been detected amongst Video games-related personnel on Saturday. Of these, 13 had been athletes or group officers who examined optimistic after arriving on the airport.
Of the overall infections, 23 had been amongst new airport arrivals, whereas 11 had been individuals already within the ‘closed loop’ bubble that separates occasion personnel from the general public.
