Olympian Katie Parker tests positive, then negative, then bombs out of slalom

Australian alpine skier Katie Parker has achieved her goal of competing at the Olympics after a turbulent 24 hours in Beijing. It had looked like she would miss out on a Winter Olympic debut.

Parker battled Covid-19 last month and was forced to delay her arrival for the Games, missing the giant slalom when she was unable to produce two negative tests within the required time-frame for entry into the Olympic bubble.

She then tested positive with her airport arrival PCR test on Tuesday and it appeared that her chances of an Olympic debut were in ruins, with the slalom on Wednesday. But a secondary test cleared the 23-year-old, although she found it tough going at Tanqing National Alpine Skiing Centre.

She was unable to complete the first run, ending her competition. She was not alone as 30 skiers bombed out, including American two-time Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin.

“I didn’t sleep all night, then there was the phone call at 5am,” she said. “I had 30 minutes to get my stuff ready. I had to switch all my emotions in 30 minutes and pull myself together … there have just been so many unknowns and it has been a really big and emotional rollercoaster. It’s by far the most emotional I’ve ever been.”

Chef de mission Geoff Lipshut said it was a huge relief that Parker was allowed to compete.

“We are thrilled for her after a very difficult ride,” Lipshut said from Zhangjiakou. “It’s a big ask for her today to step up to this level of competition off the back of this whole experience, but she has shown incredible mental toughness and determination.

“She stepped onto that plane knowing there was a real possibility she may be positive at the other end, but here we are this morning waking up to news that further resting has come in