An alternate on the United States women’s gymnastics team has tested positive for COVID-19 in an Olympic training camp in Japan.
What You Need To Know
- An alternate on the United States women’s gymnastic team has tested positive for COVID-19 in a training camp in Japan, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee said Monday
- The positive test was the latest in growing line of daily reports of athletes and others testing positive at the pandemic-delayed Olympics
- WNBA player Katie Lou Samuelson, who was set to play on the debut 3×3 U.S. women’s basketball team, announced later Monday that she tested positive for COVID-19, despite being fully vaccinated, and will not be participating in the Tokyo games
- On Sunday, U.S. tennis player Coco Gauff announced she had tested positive for the coronavirus, forcing her to pull out of the Olympics
Olympic champion Simone Biles was not affected, nor were any of the other favorites to win the team gold, but another alternate was placed into isolation because of contact tracing, USA Gymnastics said Monday.
“One of the replacement athletes for the women’s artistic gymnastics team received a positive COVID test on Sunday, July 18. After reviewing the implemented COVID protocols with members of the delegation, the local government determined that the affected replacement athlete and one other replacement athlete would be subject to additional quarantine restrictions,” the USAG statement said. “Accordingly, on Monday, the Olympic athletes moved to separate lodging accommodations and a separate training facility, as originally planned, and will continue their preparation for the Games. The entire delegation continues to be vigilant and will maintain strict protocols while they are in Tokyo.”
The positive test was the latest in a growing line of daily reports of athletes and others testing positive at the pandemic-delayed Olympics. The American gymnast who tested positive has not been named publicly.
“The health and safety of our athletes, coaches and staff is our top priority. We can confirm that an alternate on the women’s artistic gymnastics team tested positive for COVID-19,” the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee said in a statement. “In alignment with local rules and protocols, the athlete has been transferred to a hotel to quarantine. Out of respect for the individual’s privacy, we cannot provide more information at this time.”
The four alternates — Leanne Wong, Kayla DiCello, Emma Malabuyo and Kara Eaker — traveled to Japan with the six-woman U.S. delegation of Biles, Jordan Chiles, Grace McCallum, Sunisa Lee, MyKayla Skinner and Jade Carey.
The alternates are rooming and training together. While they have been traveling to training along with the actual team, they have been split into groups, with the team working on one apparatus while the alternates work on another.
The U.S. women’s team dealt with what USA Gymnastics called a “false positive” over the weekend for an unidentified athlete but the ensuing test results for the athlete were negative, according to the organization.
Biles, who is also the world champion, and the rest of the regular team have been vaccinated.
The Games are set to open on Friday with a state of emergency in force in Tokyo, which means almost all venues will be without any fans as new cases rise in the capital. The women’s gymnastic team begins competing on Sunday.
The U.S. officials said the test took place when the team was training just outside Tokyo in Inzai City. Team members arrived last week for the camp to great fanfare at Narita airport.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government on Monday reported 727 new cases in the capital. It is the 30th straight day that cases were higher than the previous week. The cases last Monday were 502.
WNBA player Katie Lou Samuelson, who was set to play on the debut 3×3 U.S. women’s basketball team, announced later Monday that she tested positive for COVID-19, despite being fully vaccinated, and will not be participating in the Tokyo games.
“I am devastated to share that after getting sick with COVID-19, I will not be able to go and compete in Tokyo,” the 24-year-old Seattle Storm forward wrote on Instagram. “Competing in the Olympics has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl and I hope someday soon, I can come back to realize that dream. I am especially heartbroken as I am fully vaccinated and took every precaution, but I know everything will work itself out in the way it’s supposed to.”
“Our hearts are broken for Lou,” USA Basketball 3×3 wrote in a Twitter post. “We thank her for her endless commitment to building up USA Basketball 3×3 & we will miss her dearly in Tokyo.”
Samuelson will be replaced by Jackie Young, a guard for the Las Vegas Aces.
On Sunday, U.S. tennis player Coco Gauff announced she had tested positive for the coronavirus, forcing her to pull out of the Olympics.
“I am so disappointed to share the news that I have tested positive for COVID and won’t be able to play in the Olympic Games in Tokyo,” Gauff tweeted on Sunday.
“It has always been a dream of mine to represent the USA at the Olympics, and I hope there will be many more chances for me to make this come true in the future.”
