Coronavirus: US figure skater Vincent Zhou out of Olympics after testing positive for COVID-19

BEIJING — Team USA figure skater Vincent Zhou announced in an emotional video posted on social media Monday that he is withdrawing from the men’s individual competition at the Beijing Olympics after testing positive for COVID-19.

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Update 11:10 a.m. EST Feb. 7: In a video posted to Instagram, Zhou said he “will have to withdraw from the individual events starting tomorrow.

“It seems pretty unreal that of all the people it would happen to myself, and that’s not just because I’m still processing this turn of events, but also because I have been doing everything in my power to stay free of COVID since the start of the pandemic,” he said.

“I’ve taken all the precautions I can. I’ve isolated myself so much that the loneliness I’ve felt in the last month or two has been crushing at times.”

In a statement posted on Twitter, officials with U.S. Figure Skating said they were “so proud” of Zhou, who earlier helped the U.S. win silver in the team skating competition.

Original report: Team USA figure skater Vincent Zhou has tested positive for COVID-19 during routine screening at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

According to The Associated Press, the 21-year-old, whose free skate performance Sunday helped the U.S. earn a silver medal in the team event, “is undergoing additional testing Monday to confirm his status.” Two consecutive negative results would allow him to compete in the individual men’s short program Tuesday; otherwise, he will have to isolate, People magazine reported.

“At this time, we ask you respect his privacy as we await the result,” U.S. Figure Skating said in a news release.

Ice dancer Evan Bates, team captain for the U.S. figure skating team, said teammates sent their well-wishes to Zhou in a video, according to the official Olympics website.

At least 387 people in the Olympic bubble – which includes athletes, team officials and members of the media – have tested positive for coronavirus, the AP reported Monday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Photos: US figure skaters win Olympic silver in team competition Silver medalists Team United States pose during the Team Event flower ceremony on day three of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at Capital Indoor Stadium on February 7, 2022, in Beijing, China. (Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

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