The 22-year-old cross-country skier has been booked in the Covid isolation facility since the Swedish Olympic team arrived in Beijing last week. 

On Monday evening, Sweden’s Leo Johansson was allowed to leave the Covid isolation facility in Beijing. 

“It’s an amazing feeling to be allowed to leave the Covid isolation facility. I am extremely happy to be able to come back and train and prepare for the races, and super excited to start competing,” Johansson says. 

This is Sweden’s team to the 2022 Olympics

The 2022 Olympics in Beijing open on Friday, February 4, and conclude on Sunday, February 20. 

Strict rules even after discharge
When Johansson arrives in the Olympic village, he will follow the same anti-covid-restrictions in place for those defined as “close contacts” for the next seven days. 

In addition to twice-daily PCR testing, those defined as “close contacts” are allowed to train and compete, but have to stay in single rooms with separate bathrooms. All meals are be delivered to the room, and they have to use separate transportation between lodging accommodations and the training and competition venues. 

For Johansson, the discharge from the Covid isolation facility means that he will be able to compete in the 30-kilometer skiathlon, which takes place on Sunday, February 6. 

“We are super happy on Leo’s and the team’s behalf that he can now leave the Covid isolation facility. Now, we hope to focus fully on all the exciting events that are happening this weekend,” says Sweden’s national team director Anders Byström in a press release from the Swedish ski team Monday afternoon.

Johansson’s close contacts Calle Halfvarsson and Marcus Grate will be able to exit their quarantines on Thursday and Friday, respectively.   

Previously infected
Johansson was named to the Swedish Olympic team in early January, but tested positive for Covid-19 just days before the start of the final training camp in Livigno in Northern Italy. 

Accordingly, Johansson didn’t join the rest of the national team in Livigno, but did his final preparations for the Beijing Olympics in Sweden. He had passed all the mandatory PCR-tests required prior to leaving for the Olympics, but tested positive upon arrival in Beijing. 

According to the strict anti-Covid-restrictions put in place by the Chinese authorities, Johansson was sent off to the designated Covid isolation facility. Johansson had to remain in the Covid isolation facility until he had tested negative twice on two consecutive days.  

The 22-year-old Swede has delivered several top results at the World Cup this season and is considered one of Sweden’s top medal contenders at the Beijing Olympics. 

FACTS: 2022 OLYMPICS 

Where: Beijing, China
When: February 4 to 20, 2022
What: Olympic Winter Games
Check out the cross-country courses at the 2022 Beijing Olympics 
What happens when: 
Complete schedule for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, all sports. 
Who: These are the cross-country teams at the 2022 Olympics: 
Australia
Austria 
Canada 
Finland 
France 
Germany
Great Britain 
Italy
Norway
Russia 
Sweden 
Switzerland
USA 
The Tiny Teams to The 2022 Olympics (teams with fewer than five racers)