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COVID chaos hits Aussie Olympic team, 63 athletes forced into lockdown

FILE - In this June 21, 2021, file photo, Sam Kendricks competes during the finals of the men's pole vault at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Ore. American world-champion pole vaulter Kendricks will miss the Olympics after testing positive for COVID-19. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

The Australian Track and Feild team have been thrown into isolation, forcing the athletes into a COVID nightmare

Australia’s entire athletics team at the Tokyo Olympics has gone into isolation after an American athlete tested positive for coronavirus.

The team came into contact with American pole vaulter Sam Kendricks who tested positive for Covid.

The 63-strong contingent is now confined to their hotel rooms and undergoing tests as required under strict Covid-19 protocols in place at the Tokyo Olympics.

“We know that pole vault champion Sam Kendricks, a US star and a real medal chance at these Games has tested positive.”

“It’s believed he was potentially training with the Aussie star, Kurtis Marschall, our pole vault champion. “

What happens now?

All Australians and close contacts that have been put into isolation will now be tested for the virus and await the results.

Results have a turnaround timeframe of six hours, but that will no doubt be a long time for those now in lockdown.

Some of Australia’s athletes are still in camp in Australia and have not yet flown into Tokyo.

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