Winter Olympics: Hong Kong skier Audrey King tests positive for Covid-19
- The 19-year-old tested positive for the coronavirus twice upon landing in Beijing from the team’s training camp in Bosnia and is currently in quarantine
- ‘Close contact’ teammate Adrian Yung and head coach Marko Rudic tested negative but will also be monitored and quarantined
Audrey King (middle) and Adrian Yung (second from right) with other Hong Kong team officials in Europe. Audrey has tested positive for coronavirus, but said she is feeling fine, while Adrian tested negative but is considered a close contact. Photo: Skiing Association of Hong KongHong Kong Olympic alpine skier Audrey King has tested positive for coronavirus upon arrival in Beijing, the Hong Kong Sports Federation and Olympic Committee (SF&OC) said on Monday.
“I have no symptoms and I am feeling fine,” said the 19-year-old, who is undergoing compulsory hotel quarantine.
Should she return a negative test in time, King will still be able to compete in her women’s slalom event scheduled for February 9.
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King, men’s skier Adrian Yung Hau-tsuen and Hong Kong head coach Marko Rudic departed their Bosnia pre-Games training camp for Beijing on January 30. Yung and Rudic tested negative but are deemed close contacts. Yung is set to compete in the men’s giant slalom on February 13.
“King departed Bosnia to Beijing in accordance with the established quarantine procedures. After arriving at the airport in Beijing for a nucleic acid test on January 30 evening, they were asked to be tested again, and the results of the second conducted this morning (January 31) were still positive,” the SF&OC said in a statement.
According to the Beijing Olympic Organising Committee’s guidelines, King will not be able to leave quarantine until testing negative for two consecutive days, and will be monitored closely – alongside her “close contacts,” for one week.
The trio will undergo testing every 12 hours for seven days, and will be able to train and compete – under social distancing guidelines – should they meet the required prevention measures. However, they will not be allowed to enter certain facilities within the Olympic bubble.
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The SF&OC said it would closely monitor the trio and would provide all the necessary help for the health of their athletes.
All athletes at the Games will be tested six hours before the start of their respective competitions. The event runs from February 4 to 20.