Australian mixed curling duo allowed to remain at Olympics after positive COVID-19 result
Aussies get late reprieve, allowing them to remain in Beijing
In an amazing turnaround, Australia's mixed doubles curling team was cleared to continue competing at the Beijing Olympics after pulling out earlier on Sunday.
The Australian duo of Tahli Gill and Dean Hewitt originally withdrew in the aftermath of Gill testing positive for COVID-19. But Australia's team was given a reprieve following an urgent meeting of the Medical Expert Panel (MEP) in Beijing.
The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) received an email from the Chinese Public Health System advising them that Gill and Hewitt could continue to compete under the Close Contact provisions.
"We are thrilled for Tahli and Dean and I am delighted that our headquarters team continued pressing her case, after earlier advice that the pair could no longer compete," Australian Olympic Team Chef de Mission Geoff Lipshu said.
Gill contracted COVID-19 prior to the Olympics, with ongoing testing alternating between negative and positive. She was granted permission to compete in Beijing under the close contact arrangements after talks with the IOC and Games organizers.
As a result of Sunday's ruling, Australia will be able to play its final two games of the round robin, one of which is against Canada's John Morris and Rachel Homan on Sunday (7:05 a.m. ET). The Australians lost all seven of their opening matches before earning a 9-6 win over Switzerland on Sunday.
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Morris previously coached the Australian duo when they relocated to Canmore, Alta., last September, and the teams played each other in practice games to prepare for the Olympics.
"He's basically family to us," Hewitt told The Canadian Press. "He gave us this really nice card [last week] and he finished off the note saying, 'Friend first. Coach second."'
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