BEIJING – U.S. Olympic determine skating trainer Tom Zakrajsek got here to Beijing to train Vincent Zhou in each the determine skating staff festival and the lads’s person tournament.
As he stood by way of the forums Sunday, Zhou skated neatly sufficient to lend a hand the American citizens win a silver medal within the staff tournament Monday.
But if the U.S. staff was once introduced and stepped onto the second one rung of the rostrum at Capital Indoor Stadium, Zhou wasn’t there. He had examined sure for COVID-19 and was once about to enter quarantine.
So, as the lads’s quick program went on with out Zhou Tuesday morning, Zakrajsek despatched his ideas by the use of textual content message to USA TODAY Sports activities:
“It’s a difficult day. It’s a intestine punch. After being right here for 11 days and Vincent trying out adverse each day aside from the ultimate couple it’s onerous to consider,” he wrote.
“Vincent and I’ve been in contact day by day. That is heartbreaking for Vincent and everybody on his staff. I shared with him the Olympic creed as a morning meditation. Every so often it’s about managing the battle and definitely Covid has challenged all people for a number of years.
“I do know in a couple of mins I can be visualizing his quick program when it’s time for beginning order quantity 12 and I urged this to Vincent as an workout as a result of he has skilled so onerous and he has been killing it on apply.”
Zakrajsek concluded his textual content this manner:
“The outpouring of toughen has been superb. From U.S. Determine Skating and Staff USA on the whole and throughout social media.”
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