Utah Native Casey Dawson Out Of Individual Olympic Events Due To COVID-19 Testing Woes
Feb 2, 2022, 3:52 PM
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 08: Casey Dawson competes in the Men's 1500 meter event during the 2022 U.S. Speedskating Long Track Olympic Trials at Pettit National Ice Center on January 08, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Speedskater Casey Dawson will not be competing in his individual events at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
In an Instagram post, Dawson explained the COVID-19 testing woes he has been through over the past weeks. Three weeks ago he tested positive for COVID-19 but just this week he thought he would be good to go for his 5000-meter race because he started testing negative.
“Friends, family, teammates, competitors… I am saddened to announce that I will not be racing my individual races at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. After testing positive for COVID three weeks ago, I just finally started to test negative this past week. I thought everything was good to go to leave and get to Beijing before my 5000m, and according to everyone I’ve been in contact with, that was the general consensus. I needed two consecutive negative tests to be approved to leave, and I was able to produce those. Everything was good until I received news that they now require four negative tests to even consider sending me over,” the post detailed the ordeal.
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Dawson thought his two negative tests would be enough to get the green light to head to Beijing, but it wasn’t, four negative tests are now required. He went on to detail issues with approved testing centers.
“Also the testing site I used was on the approved list, and that was also changed as well, so I had to switch where I was getting tested. It’s hard to trust anyone, even people in the highest of positions when they can’t even provide you with the correct information. I was lost, and am still lost, but I know none of this is in my control,” Dawson wrote.
Casey Dawson At The Olympics
His first event would have been the 5000-meter on Sunday, February 6. There is hope that he may be able to make the team event on the last day of the Games.
“All I can do is continue to train, and keep the dream in sight for the team pursuit. I am going to be stronger and more prepared than ever before, and with the team I have behind me, I know great things are to come. Thank you everyone for being there along this journey, and just know this is just one setback that can’t and won’t stop me,” he concluded.
Dawson is a University of Utah student from Park City, Utah.
The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics
Just a year after Japan’s summer Olympics, the Games are back for a winter show in Beijing, China. The unusually short gap between Games is due to the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Strict precautions and enforced virus prevention protocol are in place to help keep athletes, coaches and personnel safe.
Beijing is the capital of China, with a population of more than 20 million people and the first city to host both a Summer and Winter Olympic games. It is one of the largest cities in the world and 15 hours ahead of Mountain Time. There are 13 different venues in and around Beijing that will be used for the Winter Olympics. A total of 109 events will be held in 15 different sports, and there will be a lot of Utah locals competing for medals. Keep up to date with them at our Olympic headquarters.
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