Dutch skier pulls out of the Olympics citing coronavirus stress

Adriana Jelinkova in action. Photo: Jeff Pachoud AFP
Adriana Jelinkova in action. Photo: Jeff Pachoud AFP

Dutch skier Adriana Jelinkova has pulled out of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, saying she cannot cope with the stress, in particular the constant coronavirus tests.

Jelinkova, the first Dutch skier to qualify for the Olympics since 1952, recently recovered from coronavirus and did not hear until minutes before her turn that she had been cleared to take part in the giant slalom on Monday morning.

She then missed a gate, ruling her out of a second run.

The skier told reporters that she had decided to return to her ‘familiar surroundings’ in the Netherlands after consulting her team.

‘I worked so hard to get here so it is even more painful that external factors have had such an impact on my mental and physical well-being,’ she said.

Jelinkova had been due to take part in the slalom on Wednesday.

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