Portuguese surfer Frederico Morais has announced that he tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss the sport’s Olympic debut in Japan.
Morais, 29, issued a statement on social media Friday evening.
“This is likely the saddest video I’ve ever had to post. In 2019 I qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics that were postponed because of COVID-19. And now, because of the virus I won’t be able to compete nor represent my country,” he said in an Instagram video.
The Portuguese Olympic team said Morais would not travel to Tokyo as planned.
“I was very careful. I have been fully vaccinated for over a month, but I ended up contracting the virus,” Morais said in a statement issued through Portugal's Olympic team. “I feel fine and I will carry out my isolation. I will be following every second of our team.”
The International Surfing Association had no immediate comment but its deadline to register alternates is Saturday at 3 p.m. Morais is considered to be the best European surfer in the Tokyo Games.
The eight-day shortboard surfing competition period begins Sunday at Tsurigasaki beach.
German cyclist Simon Geschke became the latest addition to the long list of players who are going to miss the Olympics due to testing positive for COVID-19.
He tested positive at the Tokyo Olympics and pulled out of Saturday's road race, his team said on Friday.
Geschke was staying at a hotel with cycling teammates outside the Olympic village. All 13 other cyclists and team officials had previously tested negative and will undergo further tests.
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