USA’s Zhou out after positive test

BEIJING — U.S. men’s figure skater Vincent Zhou has tested positive for the coronavirus, and is out of the individual competition.

In a five-minute video posted to Instagram on Monday night, a teary Zhou announced that he would have to withdraw. He had initially tested positive as part of a routine COVID-19 screening, and underwent additional testing.

The 21-yearold had struggled through a poor free skate for the eventual team silver medalists a day before, and was due to compete in the individual competition that begins with the men’s short program today.

In the video, Zhou said he had isolated to the point of crushing loneliness over the past few months in a bid to avoid the virus. He ended on a positive note, though: “This is not the end. This is a setup for a bigger comeback.”

10TH MEDAL FOR FONTANA

Arianna Fontana burnished her legacy as short track’s most decorated skater with her second Olympic medal in Beijing and 10th of her career.

Her victory in the 500 meters on Monday wasn’t all good feelings, though. It laid bare an ongoing rift between the 31-year-old athlete and Italian skating officials who apparently don’t want her American husband coaching her.

Fontana took the lead from world champion Suzanne Schulting late in the race and let out a yell as she crossed the line in 42.488 seconds.

Her scream wasn’t in celebration as much as it was a release of the anger she’s been carrying since returning from a year’s break after the 2018 Olympics. Fontana won gold four years ago, but it was made clear that her husband and former U.S. short track skater, Anthony Lobello Jr., wasn’t welcome as her coach.

“I’m kind of overwhelmed with a lot of different emotions — happy, relieved,” Fontana said. “I don’t usually yell, but it was a way to let it out, all that anger.”