Tokyo 2020: Cori ‘Coco’ Gauff to miss the Olympics after testing positive for Covid-19

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The 17-year-old is currently the 25th ranked woman in the world.

“It has always been my dream to represent the United States at the Olympics, and I hope there will be a lot more chance for me to achieve that in the future,” Cori tweeted. “I wish TEAM USA good luck and safe games for every Olympian and the entire Olympic family.”

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) tweeted a statement in response to Cori’s announcement. A spokesperson for USTA said they are currently trying to determine if they can replace her on the list.

“We were saddened to learn that Coco Gauff has tested positive for COVID-19 and therefore will not be able to participate in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics,” the USTA statement said. “The entire US Olympic tennis contingent is heartbroken for Coco. We wish her the best as she faces this unfortunate situation and hope to see her back on the courts very soon.”

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics begin on Friday – but concern grows over the danger of the spread of Covid, with 55 confirmed cases now linked to the Games, including officials and contractors.

Neither the International Olympic Committee (IOC) nor Team USA require that athletes be vaccinated to participate in the Olympic Games.

Three members of the South African Olympic football team tested positive for Covid-19 after arriving at the Olympic Village in Tokyo, according to the South African Football Association. Team members include two footballers – Thabiso Monyane and Kamohelo Mahlatsi – and video analyst Mario Masha, according to the association.

The whole team is now in quarantine “until it is allowed to train”, according to the association. Monyane and Mahlatsi are the first sportsmen to have tested positive in the village.

Tokyo 2020: two South African footballers tested positive for Covid-19 in the Olympic Village
The first positive case of Covid-19 in the Olympic Village was reported on Saturday after an individual – who is not believed to be an athlete – tested positive.

Outside the Olympic Village, a third athlete tested positive on Sunday, organizers said. The names and nationalities of the positive cases were not communicated by the organizers.

Some athletes have decided not to take the risk and have pulled out of the games, including Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios and Australian basketball player Liz Cambage. About 10,000 Olympic volunteers also resigned.

As of Friday, more than 15,000 Olympians had entered Japan, according to Thomas Bach, CIO President. The Olympic Village, made up of 21 residential buildings, will house around 11,000 athletes.

The Japanese public, as well as many international observers, have expressed concern over the future of the Games as Japan struggles to bring its latest coronavirus outbreak under control.

The country experienced a huge second wave in the spring, peaking in April and May with nearly 6,000 new cases per day. Cases started to decline in June but have increased in recent weeks, raising fears that the arrival of teams from more than 200 countries could turn the Games into a major global event.

Olympic organizers announced this month that venues in Tokyo will not have spectators due to the city’s coronavirus state of emergency – an unprecedented move, according to an IOC spokesperson.

The Olympic Village is prepared with Covid testing and health centers, with signs reminding residents to wear face masks and to stand at least one meter (about 3.3 feet) from each other. Athletes will be researched and tested daily for Covid; if they are positive, they will be taken to an isolation center outside the Olympic Village and will not be able to compete.

CNN’s Jessie Yeung contributed to this report.

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