With less than two months to go before the Beijing Olympics, Canada’s short track speed skating team has been rocked by an outbreak of COVID-19 that has affected nearly all of its members, has learned Press.
In total, 11 of the 12 skaters called to represent the country in the Chinese capital received a positive antigen (rapid) test or PCR from mid-December, forcing their isolation for a period of 10 days.
After this period of compulsory confinement, they were all able to return to the ice in the last days. Since the wave that started in mid-December, sanitary measures have been tightened in the environment of the team.
“We have not escaped, like several professional and amateur sports teams for several weeks,” confirmed the short track high performance director for Speed Skating Canada (SSC), Marc Schryburt.
In an interview Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Schryburt first mentioned “multiple cases” before admitting that “50% of the team, at least”, had been hit “gradually”.
Relaunched in the evening, the high performance director did not deny the figure of 11 out of 12 which Press took notice.
“There are people who were positive on rapid tests and people who were positive on PCR tests,” he said. Viral load was monitored and at least half were considered to have tested positive with PCR. […] At one point, some were positive on the rapid test and it did not come out positive on the PCR. It’s hard to say what happened. ”
On Tuesday, all the skaters on the ice at the Maurice-Richard arena national center tested negative for PCR, said Mr. Schryburt.
No one has a viral load anymore and everyone is able to prepare for the Games.
Marc Schryburt, High Performance Short Track Director for Speed Skating Canada
The director noted that the athletes were living under “quite a lot of stress” and had “sacrificed” a lot during the holiday season.
“We were lucky”
Currently, 12 athletes, 6 women and 6 men, make up the eligible group for the Beijing Games, which will open on February 4. The 10 skaters who obtained their tickets for the Chinese capital had already been chosen. Their names were to be released on December 21 in Montreal. However, the COVID-19 outbreak forced PVC to postpone the press event to mid-January.
None of the affected skaters suffered “complications,” said Schryburt. At most, some experienced mild symptoms like headache and throat pain for a day.
“I am in contact with the coaches every day and the athletes say they feel good. […] For the moment, it has no impact on the ice. ”
Out of respect for privacy, SSC does not disclose the names of team members who have been infected.
Skater Jordan Pierre-Gilles nevertheless released a photo of him two days ago announcing his return to the rink at the Maurice-Richard arena. “After being off the ice for almost two weeks, I realized again how addicted I am to this feeling,” he wrote. I am so grateful to be able to play this sport again. ”
PHOTO FROM JORDAN PIERRE-GILLES FACEBOOK PAGE
Jordan pierre-gilles
Kim Boutin for her part posted on Instagram a photo of her training on an indoor bike a week ago. According to a source familiar with people who have had at least one positive test, the three-time Olympic medalist is one of 11 athletes affected. Joined in this regard Tuesday, his agent indicated not knowing if his client had been infected.
After participating in the four World Cup stops in Asia and Europe in October and November, Canadian skaters took part in a two-day camp at the new Quebec Ice Center in mid-December. According to Marc Schryburt, they were tested before they left.
Along with the coaches and staff, they then took part in outdoor activities with the aim of strengthening ties. The group was divided into three cabins in the area: one for the skaters, one for the skaters and one for the staff.
“The rules were the same as when we traveled abroad,” said Schryburt, who spoke of a “bubble of protection”. “Everyone had their room in large chalets. We reproduced what awaits us at the Olympic Games. In the Village, these will be apartments with four or five bedrooms. ”
This part of the camp was shortened by one day under a recommendation from medical staff at PVC, concerned about the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, said the high performance director.
Upon her return to Montreal, “a day or two later”, an athlete experienced symptoms. A PCR test revealed she had COVID-19. The other cases occurred in the following days. They concern both women and men. However, no staff member was infected.
“With the holidays, there were already breaks planned. If we had a mini-outbreak to have, we were lucky it happened then. As we speak everyone is back [sur la glace] and has 100% completed the return protocol. ”
Not dramatic, but …
The “concerns” are nonetheless great as the team is due to fly to Beijing on January 25. “Extra strict measures” have therefore been implemented: daily rapid tests, weekly PCR tests, mask at all times, including during intense efforts on the ice.
Links with the outside are also reduced to the strict minimum. All the skaters in the performance group – there are about 20 of them including training partners – must limit their activities to the arena and their residence. Some have been relocated to short-term rentals to avoid contact with people outside the bubble.
“These are sacrifices to make sure it doesn’t happen again before we leave,” said Marc Schryburt.
Like other Canadian athletes who may be heading to the Olympics, short track skaters have also started to receive their booster dose of the vaccine.
Assistant coach of the Canadian short track team, Marc Gagnon was reassuring.
“It’s not dramatic, but it’s not a perfect situation, we will tell ourselves, he admitted Tuesday. At the same time, someone could have sprained their ankle and been off the ice for seven days. It’s not the best timing when it happened a few weeks ago. But the timing is frankly better than if it happened now or next week. ”
Lone athletes received equipment at home to continue their preparation. “A good workout on the bike can get you stoned as much if not more than a practice on the ice,” said Gagnon. The return to the skater’s basic position, however, required adjustment.
“If you ask me if they will all be 100% for the Games, I wish them, because it is possible. Will this be the case for everyone? I do not know. It’s still the last straight line. But honestly, they’ve all been very professional in their comeback. ”
The Canadian bobsleigh team was also hit hard by COVID-19 at the end of December. In all, 14 members, including 11 athletes, had to go into quarantine in Latvia after testing positive. The women’s hockey team has also suffered an outbreak and will not play any games until the Beijing Games.
Long track effect
The discovery of COVID-19 within the Canadian short track team coincided with the cancellation of the Olympic long track selections scheduled between Christmas and New Year’s Day at the Quebec Ice Center. “It’s really one of the strongest elements [qui ont provoqué l’annulation] », Indicated Robert Dubreuil, general manager of the Federation of speed skating of Quebec, organizer of the competition which had obtained with hard fight the green light of the Public health of Quebec. “I’m not saying it’s just that, but it shook the national federation. It’s reality. I have no blame to give, it was a difficult decision. Some participants had already arrived in Quebec, others were on a plane and some were about to leave when the decision was made on December 20. For lack of a final selection event, Speed Skating Canada relied on the results of the Canadian championships and the four Fall World Cups to fill the remaining positions.