BEIJING — Canada’s Keegan Messing is scheduled to arrive at the Beijing Olympics on Monday, a day before the men’s short program in figure skating.
The defending Canadian champion was forced to stay in Vancouver after testing positive for
COVID-19 before the team’s flight to Beijing.
“Wherever Messing goes, it’s a two-day adventure,” said Skate Canada High Performance Director Mike Slipchuk. But Keegan and his trainer Ralph Burghart are very low key and are determined to be here. »
Messing, who resides in Girdwood, Alaska, needed to submit four negative drug tests before being given the green light to head to China.
He flew to Montreal on Friday evening, to undergo a final test for COVID-19, and from there he was to catch a flight to Beijing.
Messing’s positive test barred him from participating in the team competition, which is already underway.
Canada was in sixth place after three of four short programs on Friday.
Slipchuk said Messing, who is asymptomatic, has spent the past few days running around the stairwell in isolation at the Vancouver airport hotel. A security guard has been assigned to monitor him.
Training time at the arena was granted to him in the last days.
“So for the past few days Keegan has been doing full workouts and he’s been sending me videos so he’s keeping me updated on what he’s been up to,” Slipchuk quipped.
“By the time he gets here, it will be all adrenaline as the men’s competition will be played out so quickly.
On the other hand, it’s the “luck” we had during the draw that makes the men’s competition the first event at the Games, something that never happens. But hey, that’s part of the deal. »
His arrival will strengthen the Canadian team.
“Everyone feels bad for him,” Slipchuk added.
Slipchuk concluded by saying that Messing has been one of the most tested athletes this year due to multiple cross-border trips.
