Olympic medals in team figure skating delayed by legal issue

I have tested positive for COVID-19 and unfortunately I will have to withdraw from the individual event starting tomorrow. It seems pretty unreal that of all the people, what happened to myself I have been doing everything in my power to stay free of Covid since the start of the pandemic, I've taken all the precautions. I can, I've isolated myself so much that the loneliness I felt in the last month or two has been crushing at times. The enormity of the situation, the just the pain of it all is, it's pretty insane to the future. Vincent watching this. Your younger self would be so proud of the athlete and person you've become now, little eight year old, you would be asking 21 year old you for photos and autographs and everything. You know why? Because you lived out your dreams, you became the person you always aspired to be when you were young, sitting on the couch watching those great skaters on tv, studying their jumps every night at the dinner table And waking up at four a.m. or earlier to go into the rink and skate and two double jumps. You have no idea what you were getting into, but you had a dream and you followed it. You made sacrifices for it and you dedicated your life to it and today you are that person Vincent, you made it happen. So be proud of that. Take pride in yourself, recognize yourself. Don't be afraid to take a step back and look at things from the bigger picture. I've already lost count of the number of times I've cried today, but I'm happy to say that at least one of those times was happy tears. And that was when that's what I, but I found out that I became an olympic silver medalist, and I think that wraps things up nicely on a positive note.

The winners in the team figure skating competition at the Beijing Olympics still have not received their medals two days later because of what the IOC said Wednesday were “legal issues.”The ceremony to award the Russian team the gold medals, the United States silver and Japan bronze was pulled from its scheduled slot late Tuesday.Reporters asked the Kremlin about the issue later Wednesday amid speculation that the gold medals won by six Russian skaters could be at risk."Let’s, for the sake of understanding, wait for some explanations either from our sports officials or from the IOC,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams earlier cited “legal consultation” required with the governing body of skating. Details of the case were not specified though could involve suspected athlete ineligibility or a doping rules violation.“We have athletes that have won medals involved,” Adams said at the daily news briefing.The team event was contested over three days between Friday and Monday and included two elements in each of men’s, women’s, pairs and ice dance categories.Related video above: Tearful Vincent Zhou withdraws from Olympics due to positive COVID test The standout performance was 15-year-old Russian skater Kamila Valieva becoming the first female skater to land a quad jump at an Olympics. American Vincent Zhou tested positive for COVID-19 after his free skate Sunday.If any athlete and team were disqualified or had their results nullified, an appeal would likely follow, which could further delay the medals presentation.The Court of Arbitration for Sport has set up an office in Beijing to hear urgent cases during the Winter Games.Some skaters in the men's competition are due to finish their events Thursday and leave China soon after.“Everyone is doing absolutely everything that the situation can be resolved as soon as possible,” Adams said, though he cautioned “as you know, legal issues can sometimes drag on.”Canada placed fourth Monday and would be in line to be upgraded onto the podium.___Associated Press writer Dasha Litvinova in Moscow contributed to this report.

BEIJING, Beijing —

The winners in the team figure skating competition at the Beijing Olympics still have not received their medals two days later because of what the IOC said Wednesday were “legal issues.”

The ceremony to award the Russian team the gold medals, the United States silver and Japan bronze was pulled from its scheduled slot late Tuesday.

Reporters asked the Kremlin about the issue later Wednesday amid speculation that the gold medals won by six Russian skaters could be at risk.

"Let’s, for the sake of understanding, wait for some explanations either from our sports officials or from the IOC,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams earlier cited “legal consultation” required with the governing body of skating. Details of the case were not specified though could involve suspected athlete ineligibility or a doping rules violation.

“We have athletes that have won medals involved,” Adams said at the daily news briefing.

The team event was contested over three days between Friday and Monday and included two elements in each of men’s, women’s, pairs and ice dance categories.

Related video above: Tearful Vincent Zhou withdraws from Olympics due to positive COVID test

The standout performance was 15-year-old Russian skater Kamila Valieva becoming the first female skater to land a quad jump at an Olympics. American Vincent Zhou tested positive for COVID-19 after his free skate Sunday.

If any athlete and team were disqualified or had their results nullified, an appeal would likely follow, which could further delay the medals presentation.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has set up an office in Beijing to hear urgent cases during the Winter Games.

Some skaters in the men's competition are due to finish their events Thursday and leave China soon after.

“Everyone is doing absolutely everything that the situation can be resolved as soon as possible,” Adams said, though he cautioned “as you know, legal issues can sometimes drag on.”

Canada placed fourth Monday and would be in line to be upgraded onto the podium.

___

Associated Press writer Dasha Litvinova in Moscow contributed to this report.

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