In a twist of fate feared by thousands of athletes finally headed to Tokyo for the Summer Games, Kara Eaker and Leanne Wong had their Olympic dreams dashed by a positive coronavirus test.
The Kansas City gymnasts were sidelined Monday after Eaker tested positive for COVID and Wong, as her teammate who also traveled to Japan with her, was quarantined because of contact tracing.
”They’re obviously disappointed,” said their coach Al Fong. "They're antsy. They feel like they’ve missed a significant part of the show.”
Fong, who is not quarantined, is staying in close communication by telephone with Eaker and Wong while they are isolated.
“We’ve been stuck in the hotel room and, literally, our meals have been brought to the door," Fong explained. "The two girls have not even seen the light of day. They’re not even supposed to stick their head out in the hallway.”
Each day the gymnasts and Fong take a COVID test.
Eaker and Wong were able to participate in the first workout in Japan which occurred before the COVID test that upended their plans. They were prepared to compete if they were called upon to do so.
Fong said, "They were bringing it ... we saw them toward the end of our workout in our gym (at GAGE in Blue Springs), they were peaking perfectly up to this point.”
After the positive test, their plans changed dramatically.
Fong recalled, “It was like everything comes to a screeching halt, which took us all completely by surprise. How would anybody feel when they’re all so close and then all of a sudden it just stops?”
According to Fong, fans from Kansas City and around the world have sent sympathy and well-wishes to Eaker and Wong.
