Two Aussie Olympic skateboarders to miss Tokyo after positives as officials reassure other athletes

Covid may have shattered the Olympics dream for two Aussie skateboarding stars, but Australian officials say stricter protocols will be in place to keep athletes safe in Japan.

The Olympic dreams of two Aussie skateboarding stars have been dashed after the pair tested positive for COVID-19 in the USA but Olympic officials say stricter protocols will be in place to keep athletes safe in Japan.

Three members of Australia’s Olympic skateboarding team tested positive to Covid-19 after travelling to the US for a qualifying event.

Two athletes are now out of the running of the Olympics due to the Covid-19 cases, along with one coach who also tested positive at the qualifying event.

Chef de Mission of the Australian Team for the 2020 Tokyo Ian Chesterman said it was a tough time for the individuals involved.

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Skateboarder Charlotte Heath will miss Tokyo after testing positive to Covid. Picture: Getty Images

“Skateboarding does have young athletes involved in it, but there is a good network in place to support them,” Chesterman said.

“It is most unfortunate that they are now unable to compete but we will still have a very strong skateboarding team heading to Tokyo.”

He said it was at this stage unknown how the three Australians contracted the virus.

Chesterman said that the skateboarders had only received one of their Pfizer vaccination shots before they left Australia and were due to receive the second while in the United States.

“They are being well looked after my understanding is that no one is showing serious symptoms,” he said.

Athletes heading to Tokyo for the Olympics will be fully vaccinated and Chesterman said stricter protocols would be in place.

“It is a different scenario going into Tokyo,” he said.

“Athletes will be tested here in Australia 14 days prior to departure and athletes around the world will be tested twice in the 96 hours before departure.

“They will all be tested on arrival and tested everyday.”

Poppy Starr Olsen is also in the United States but remains hopeful she will be selected. Picture: Supplied

Chesterman said athletes would also be expected to social distance, wear masks and practice good hygiene while overseas.

The Australian skateboarding team is yet to be announced but Aussie skater Poppy Starr Olsen, who is in the US, is hopeful she will still be selected.

“I am doing well. I was vaccinated prior to departing and am isolating in order to stay safe,” she told News Corp.

“As world number 4 park skater it’s unlikely that I will miss out on a place at Tokyo, but it’s been hard for my friends that have now missed out on any chance to qualify.

“None of the team and coach who have contracted Covid-19 are experiencing serious symptoms, which is a relief.

“Once everyone has been cleared of symptoms and is safe to travel we will head to San Diego to complete training, and then the final team will head onto Tokyo”.

Aussie skater, 13, in Olympic COVID shock

Three members of Australia’s Olympic skateboarding team have tested positive to COVID-19 after travelling to the US for a qualifying event.

Two athletes are now out of the running of the Olympics due to the COVID-19 cases, along with one coach who also tested positive at the qualifying event.

The group of 11 Australian skaters and staff flew out from Sydney on May 3 to California before travelling to the Dew Tour in Iowa in an effort to qualify for the Olympics.

Melbourne skater Charlotte Heath, 13, confirmed on social media she was one of the Australian athletes who had contracted the virus.

“Pretty bummed about not being able to compete in dew tour In Des Moines this year because I got Covid 19.

“I have to quarantine for a while now and I was really looking forward to this comp but at least I got to travel to America and go to all the sick skateparks while I could.

“Good luck to all the other girls and boys competing. It’s going to be sick to watch,” she wrote in an Instagram post.

Young skateboarding starlet Charlotte Heath’s Olympic dreams have been dashed. Picture: Jason Edwards

Some of the team leaving Sydney for the United States.

The other team member and the coach who tested positive has also been placed in isolation.

The Australian Olympic Committee said they would continue to work with Skate Australia to assist athletes heading to Tokyo.

“The AOC will continue to work with Skate Australia to assist athletes who will travel to Japan for the Games, meeting all requirements outlined in the Tokyo Games playbooks as well as any athlete who will be required to return to Australia and enter quarantine back home,” A statement released on Sunday evening said.