Anchorage figure skater Keegan Messing is headed to Europe and ultimately Beijing after COVID protocols derailed his Olympic plans. He's expected to reach Beijing in time to compete in the men’s singles short program:
Armed with his fourth negative COVID-19 test result, Keegan Messing was on a plane headed to Europe on Saturday afternoon, a trip that puts the Alaska figure skater one step closer to Beijing and the Winter Olympics., Messing is expected to reach Beijing in time to compete Monday afternoon in the men’s singles short program.
“He had a 4th negative test in Montreal and is on his way now to Beijing. He’s flying through Europe and arrives here early on the 7th,” Skate Canada spokeswoman Caroline Sharp said Saturday afternoon by email. If anyone is prepared to handle a quick turnaround and the stress of nearly missing the Olympics, it’s Messing. At last month’s Canadian national championships, he endured weather delays and flight cancellations that contributed to a 33-hour trip from Anchorage to Ottawa, and along the way he was separated from his competition skates. The skates didn’t arrive until the night before the short program.
After winning his first national title last month, Messing returned briefly to Anchorage. When he rejoined his Olympic teammates in Canada, he tested positive for COVID-19 and was unable to travel to China with the rest of the team.