5 Athletes Whose Olympic Dreams Got Dashed by COVID-19 Kara Eaker, one of five U.S. athletes who must sit out the Olympics, looks pleased after her dismount from the balance beam June 25 during the women's competition of the U.S. Gymnastics Olympic Trials at America’s Center 1 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images) Five U.S. athletes have tested positive for COVID-19 before the start of the Tokyo Olympics, crushing their dreams of competing in the world’s largest sporting event. U.S. men’s basketball player Bradley Beal tested positive July 15, which made him unable to travel to Tokyo, the USA team announced in a tweet.