More athletes test positive
Vaccinated Kara Eaker, U.S. gymnastics alternate, among those whose dream is likely over.
Kara Eaker, an alternate on the United States women’s gymnastics team, tested positive for COVID-19 in an Olympic training camp in Japan.
Al Fong, the personal coach for both Eaker and fellow Olympic alternate Leanne Wong, confirmed the positive test in an email to the Associated Press on Monday.
The coach said Eaker, 18, was vaccinated against COVID-19 two months ago. Both Eaker and Wong have been placed in isolation.
Also testing positive is basketball player Katie Lou Samuelson. She is out of 3on-3 basketball after contracting the virus while training in Las Vegas.
Samuelson, who plays for the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, flew home to get vaccinated during her European season so that she would be ready to help the U.S. qualify for the Olympics in May.
Team USA guard Zach LaVine — the former UCLA product — was put into health and safety protocols shortly before the players were scheduled to fly to Tokyo. It is unclear whether LaVine will be eligible by Sunday, when Team USA opens play against France.
Michael Phelps, who has won the most medals (28) and gold medals (23) in Olympic history,will be part of NBC’s Olympics coverage as a correspondent and swimming commentator, the network announced.
Toyota, a top sponsor of the Games, announced it will not air any Olympic-related TV advertisements in Japan and that its officials will no longer attend any of the events, including the opening ceremony, according to media reports. The decision by the country’s top automaker underlines how polarizing the Games have become in Japan as COVID-19 infections continue to rise.
Sparks star Nneka Ogwumike’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to play for Nigeria in the Olympics was rejected.