US women’s gymnastics team flies to Olympic Village

Amid heightened concerns over COVID-19, the U.S. women’s gymnastics team has chosen to stay in a hotel rather than boarding the Olympic Village in Tokyo.

“It was also a decision that we all made together, we know it is not ideal for the Olympic experience but nothing is ideal during a pandemic”, Cécile Landi, the coach of Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles, wrote Sunday on Twitter.

“We have the impression of better controlling the athletes and our safety in a hotel setting!

On Monday, Kara Eaker, a replacement for the team, became the first known case of COVID-19 among US Olympians. Eaker, who is vaccinated, tested positive at an Olympic training camp in Narita, Japan. She is currently in quarantine, as is Leanne Wong, a substitute colleague and training buddy who was considered close contact.

“The entire delegation continues to be vigilant and will maintain strict protocols while in Tokyo,” USA Gymnastics said in a statement on Monday.

The team’s decision to stay in a hotel comes amid a bewildering increase in COVID-19 cases with the Delta variant on the rise. As of Monday evening, 71 cases of COVID-19 were linked to the Games, including several permeating the Olympic Village. Tokyo reported more than 1,300 cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, 550 more than the previous week’s total.

The US team is widely favored to win their third consecutive Olympic title in Tokyo, led by otherworldly Biles. All team members are vaccinated.