Speed skating-Team USA puts on brave face as member awaits more COVID
tests
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[February 04, 2022] By
Sakura Murakami
BEIJING (Reuters) - Members of the top-ranked men's USA speed
skating team put on a brave face despite missing a member of their
team on the ice rink in Beijing due to positive COVID-19 tests.
Team USA speed skater Casey Dawson said that he will miss his
individual races at the Beijing Winter Games because he tested
positive for COVID-19 three weeks ago.
He started testing negative this past week, but with a change in the
rules that required four consecutive negative tests rather than the
two that he initially thought was required, he has been unable to
travel to Beijing for the Games, he said on Instagram on Thursday.
"I think we're hoping to get Casey here and even if we don't we
still have a good shot at winning the team pursuit," said team mate
Joey Mantia after a training session at the National Speed Skating
Oval on Friday.
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"We do need him as part of our strategy but it's not a make or break
type situation in terms of 'Oh we can't even medal if he's not
here,'" he said.
Dawson said that he had tested negative twice in a row, which he
said "was the general consensus" for the requirement to leave for
Beijing.
"Everything was good until I received news that they now require
four negative tests to even consider sending me over," he said.
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![](../images/020421pics/sports19.jpg)
Casey Dawson competes in the Men's 5000 meter event during the 2022
US Olympic Trials - Long Track for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter
Games at Pettit National Ice Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick
McDermott-USA TODAY Sports
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The U.S. men's team pursuit is currently ranked No.
1 in world rankings, with a line-up that includes Dawson, Mantia,
and Emery Lehman. The team set a world record in December for the
men's team pursuit event.
Dawson spoke of the difficulties of navigating the
strict COVID-19 protocols that the Winter Games is held under in his
post.
"It's hard to ... trust anyone, even people in the highest of
positions, when they can't even provide you with the correct
information," he said.
"I was lost, and am still lost, but I know none of this is in my
control. All I can do is continue to train, and keep the dream in
sight for the team pursuit," he added.
(Reporting by Sakura Murakami; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
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