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Alliance Marijan Murat / photo via Getty Kara Eaker
Kara Eaker’s dad has lost hope that the substitute for the United States women’s gymnastics team can compete in the Tokyo Olympics this month.
The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee announced Monday that “a replacement for the women’s artistic gymnastics team has tested positive for COVID-19,” but would not name Eaker, 18, “out of respect for the privacy of the ‘individual”.
The gymnast’s trainer, Al Fong, later confirmed the positive test to The Associated Press, saying she tested positive at a training camp in Japan. The coach added that the athlete had been fully vaccinated.
“There was hope so far, even as a substitute,” Eaker’s father Mark told KSHB of his daughter’s chances of making it into the competition. “Now that the results have returned, that hope is gone.”
Harry how / Getty Kara Eaker
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Mark said he was “the most disappointed” for the gymnast due to the long time she had to participate in the Games.
“I feel bad for her because like I said she has trained most of her life for it,” he told the outlet.
Eaker’s mother, Katherine, added that she was “incredibly grateful that we vaccinated her” as she is asymptomatic.
“Everyone tells us – all doctors tell us – it’s to their advantage,” she said of the vaccine. “If there’s something I can tell everyone, take it seriously.”
RELATED: Athletes and organizers test positive for COVID at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics
kshb Kara Eaker’s parents, Mark and Katherine
The 18-year-old is one of four substitutes for Team USA’s women’s gymnastics team. Lean colleague Leanne Wong, 17, was also quarantined due to possible exposure, by KSHB, despite having tested negative.
Eaker is one of 58 reported cases of COVID-19 linked to the reported pandemic event, CNN reported.
Of those 58 athletes, three athletes who are in the Olympic Village have tested positive, according to the Associated Press. These Olympic hopes include Czech Republic beach volleyball player Ondřej Perušič and two South African male soccer players.
With 11,000 athletes and thousands of support staff expected to stay in the Olympic Village, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said there was no risk of athletes infecting Japanese residents with COVID-19. Spectators were recently banned from attending the Summer Olympics as Tokyo declared a state of emergency.
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Additionally, all Olympians are required to wear face masks inside the Athletes Village even if they are vaccinated.
Nearly 10,000 of the 80,000 unpaid Olympic volunteers previously withdrew from the event, many citing concerns related to COVID-19. Meanwhile, a recent study found that nearly 60% of Japanese people want the Summer Olympics to be canceled for the same reason.
To find out more about all the Olympic hopefuls, visit TeamUSA.org. The Tokyo Olympics begin July 23 on NBC.
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