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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — One other big title in U.S. determine skating has been sidelined with COVID-19.
Two-time nationwide champion Alysa Liu, who is taken into account one of many favorites to symbolize the U.S. on the Beijing Winter Olympics, withdrew from the U.S. Determine Skating Championships after testing optimistic for COVID-19 on Friday morning, the nationwide governing physique stated.
The information got here lower than 24 hours after Liu, 16, skated within the quick program – placing third behind Mariah Bell and Karen Chen – and hours earlier than she was set to return to the ice for the free skate.
“Issues occur sadly however it’s what it’s,” Liu wrote on Instagram. “I am grateful to U.S. Determine Skating for taking the additional precaution and having the mandatory testing services to assist hold everybody right here as secure as attainable. I am feeling good bodily and mentally and I am wishing all the women good luck for tonight!”
Liu’s agent, Yuki Saegusa, instructed USA TODAY Sports activities that the skater is “unhappy” however “has no signs.” She was examined Friday morning as a part of the occasion’s protocols, which require all individuals to supply a unfavourable PCR check upon arrival and in addition take a second COVID-19 check on their fourth day current.
“She’s going to petition to make the Olympic staff,” Saegusa added.
There are three such slots obtainable in girls’s determine skating. The staff shall be introduced Saturday afternoon.
Arguably Workforce USA’s finest hope of profitable an Olympic medal in an occasion that has been dominated by the Russians, Liu is the second star to be pressured out of competitors this week after a optimistic COVID-19 check. Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier withdrew Wednesday evening after Frazier examined optimistic.
Because the favorites of their respective occasions, Liu and the Knierim/Frazier duo nonetheless have robust possibilities of making Workforce USA, regardless of not with the ability to compete this week. However a optimistic check at this juncture might nonetheless show problematic, given the rigorous pre-departure protocols that Beijing 2022 organizers have applied.
In response to the newest “playbook” of COVID-19 countermeasures, all vaccinated athletes touring to Beijing should submit two unfavourable PCR check outcomes inside 96 hours of their flight to China. However athletes who’ve beforehand had COVID-19 should additionally fill out a medical certificates detailing their an infection and restoration dates and ship it to organizers “at the least eight working days” earlier than departing. And those that have examined optimistic inside 30 days should take two further PCR exams, taken 24 hours aside after restoration.
Liu and Frazier are amongst a number of Workforce USA hopefuls who might need to clear these further benchmarks. Skier Mikaela Shiffrin and snowboarder Shaun White have additionally disclosed in latest weeks that they examined optimistic for COVID-19. The Video games start Feb. 4.
Liu, who gained two U.S. championships earlier than her fifteenth birthday, is extensively thought of to be one of many nation’s finest up-and-coming skaters. She is likely one of the few feminine skater who repeatedly makes an attempt and lands the notoriously troublesome triple axel.
On Thursday evening, the California native was one of many remaining athletes to compete within the quick program, inserting third with a rating of 71.42. She later spoke to reporters at a information convention, sitting subsequent to Bell and Chen. All three wore masks.
The occasion is being held in entrance of media members and paying spectators at Bridgestone Area, regardless of the rise of COVID-19 circumstances within the Nashville space as a result of omicron variant. Current related occasions in different sports activities, just like the U.S. Speedskating trials in Milwaukee, are as an alternative being held behind closed doorways resulting from COVID-19.
Contributing: Christine Brennan
Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.
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