Google translate from Polish press:
Sport.pl
"It's inhumane." Shocking backstage of Natalia Maliszewska's exclusion
- Only after Natalia Maliszewska was at the rink, we received a message that her test was positive - says Marcin Nowak from the Polish Olympic mission for the Beijing 2022 Games. Our short track star was released from isolation on Saturday night, but not on Saturday she was allowed to start in the qualifying round of 500 meters, her crowning distance.
Only a few days passed from January 30 to February 5, but Natalia Maliszewska must be terribly tired these days. After a positive covid test, our greatest hope for a medal at these Olympics was isolation. On February 2, Maliszewska had a negative test and there was hope that she would return to the Olympic Village on February 3. None of this, on February 3, Natalia's test was considered positive (apparently it was at the border), and on February 4 - after positive - it became clear that she would miss her 500-meter start.
It was clear until the night. It was 1 o'clock in Beijing when we received unofficial information that Maliszewska would come out of isolation! At 3 o'clock the Polish Olympic Committee confirmed that Natalia is already in the Olympic village and is getting ready to start in the 500-meter qualifying round. These started at 12 o'clock our time (it was 7pm in Beijing). Without Maliszewska. Why?
"Natalia Maliszewska experiences a life drama"
We give the floor to Marcin Nowak, who is in Beijing in the Polish Olympic mission.
- Natalia came to the Olympic Village at night. In the morning, she underwent the normal daily testing routine like everyone else. Later she went to the ice rink because there were no results and no results means everything is fine. Only when Natalia was at the rink, we received a message that her test was positive. It was inhuman - Nowak says in an interview with Sport.pl.
- From the medical point of view, it is of course the most important thing to care for her health. But from the human and sports point of view, Natalia experiences a life drama - emphasizes Nowak.