Australia’s athletics team cleared to resume training after COVID-19 scare in Olympic Village
The bulk of Australia’s athletics team have been cleared to return to their regular routines after a coronavirus scare in the Olympic village.
Three Aussie athletes, who are vaccinated, have tested negative after a “brief casual contact” with world champion US pole vaulter Sam Kendricks, who tested positive for COVID-19, and was officially ruled out of the Olympics this afternoon.
Australia’s Kurtis Marschall, also a pole vaulter, was reportedly one of the trio affected.
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The trio remain in isolation and will be tested daily, the Australian Olympic Committee said.
They will be allowed to resume training, subject to strict protocols that restricts their contact with others.
“At this stage all athletes are expected to compete as planned,” a statement said.
“Once again, abundant caution and our strict protocols continue to keep the team safe,” Australia’s Chef de Mission Ian Chesterman said.
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“We will continue to be very thorough in our observance of the Tokyo playbooks and our own additional measures. We want every Australian athlete to be in a position to have their Olympic moment. We will continue to be vigilant.”
The remaining 54 members of the track and field team (41 athletes and 13 officials) spent more than two hours isolating in their rooms today before getting the green light to resume training.
There had been concern Kendricks was training with Marschall.
The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee confirmed Kendricks’ positive result today.
“We are saddened to confirm that Sam Kendricks tested positive for COVID-19 and will not compete in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020,” the USOPC tweeted.
“In alignment with local rules and protocols, he has been transferred to a hotel to be placed in isolation and is being supported by the USATF and USOPC staff.”
There’s never a good time for a COVID scare but this one was horrendously timed for the Australia team, with track and field events starting tomorrow.
The pole vault competition is scheduled to start at 10.40am (AEST) on Saturday.
