World-champion pole vaulter Kendricks out of Olympics with COVID

Sam Kendricks (L) of the US and Sweden's Armand Duplantis compete in the men's final pole vault event during the Diamond League Track and Field meeting in Stockholm, on July 4, 2021. - Sweden OUT
CHRISTINE OLSSON / AFP / Getty

American world-champion pole vaulter Sam Kendricks will miss the Olympics after testing positive for COVID-19.

Kendricks’ dad posted on social media that his son had no symptoms but was informed while in Tokyo that he tested positive and was out of the competition.

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee confirmed the news and said Kendricks has been placed in isolation at a hotel. He is being supported by the USOPC and USA Track and Field.

Kendricks won the bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics and took gold at the last two world championships. He holds the American record at 19 feet, 10 ½ inches (6.06 meters).

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