Philippine’s Kristina Marie Knott, celebrates with her national flag after winning in the women’s 200m final during the athletics competition at the 30th Southeast Asian Games at Athletics Stadium in New Clark City. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
MANILA, Philippines—Sprinter Kristina Marie Knott tested positive for COVID-19 the same day after it was announced that she was qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Philip Ella Juico, president of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association, bared the news Wednesday in a press conference.
Knott, who is already fully vaccinated, is asymptomatic and is undergoing quarantine.
Knott became the 15th Filipino to qualify for the Summer Games joining boxers Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio, Irish Magno, and Carlo Paalam, pole vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnast Carlos Yulo, weightlifters Hidilyn Diaz and Elreen Ando, golfer Juvic Pagunasan, rower Cris Nievarez, taekwondo jin Kurt Barbosa, skateboarder Margielyn Didal, judoka Kiyomi Watanabe, and shooter Jayson Valdez.
A product of University of Miami, Knott last won four medals in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games including two silvers and two golds.
Knott’s 23.01-second run in the 200-meter event is both a Philippine and SEA Games record.
The 25-year-old from Saint Croix in the US Virgin Islands earned her Olympic spot via university places in the women’s 200-meter of the World Athletics.