American figure skater Vincent Zhou tests positive for COVID-19

Two-time Olympian Vincent Zhou of the U.S. has tested positive for COVID-19. The positive test puts the figure skater’s medal hopes in jeopardy as the 21-year-old now needs two consecutive negative PCR results before his next event on Tuesday.

“As part of yesterday’s regular COVID-19 screening, Vincent Zhou tested positive,” said a spokesperson from U.S. Figure Skating. “Under the guidance of our medical staff, Zhou is undergoing additional testing to confirm his status.”

For the short program on Tuesday, Zhou would be eligible to participate if he retests negative. The men’s singles competition would be his final event at the Games. Zhou replaced three-time world champion Nathan Chen on Sunday as the U.S. team won the silver medal in the team competition. It was Zhou’s first Olympic medal.

The upstart American finished sixth in the men’s program at the PyeongChang 2018 Games, but his second-place finish at the NHK Trophy in November, along with a bronze medal finish at the 2022 U.S. Championships last month in Nashville, Tennessee, has positioned himself as a potential podium challenger in Beijing.