- WSL / Cait Miers

Portugal's Frederico Morais has withdrawn from the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Taking to Instagram earlier today, he announced he's tested positive for covid.

The current World No. 11 on the Championship Tour leaderboard stated, "This is likely the saddest video I've ever had to post. In 2019 I qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics that were postponed because of COVID-19. And now, because of the virus I won't be able to compete nor represent my country."

Morais, 29, continued, "Lucky my life has always been filled with obstacles that I've overcome one by one, this will be no different. Paris 2024 I'll be ready! Good luck to my country Portugal, I'll be there with you in thought!"

NARRABEEN, AUS - APRIL 19: Frederico Morais of Portugal surfing in Heat 1 of Round 4 of the Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic presented by Corona on April 19, 2021 in Narrabeen, Australia. (Photo by Matt Dunbar/World Surf League via Getty Images) Frederico Morais surfing in the Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic presented by Corona, where he had a season's best third place finish. - WSL / Matt Dunbar

Morais went on to say in a statement issued through Portugal's Olympic team and reported by the Associated Press, "I was very careful. I have been fully vaccinated for over a month, but I ended up contracting the virus." He continued, "I feel fine and I will carry out my isolation. I will be following every second of our team."

Morais bagged a third-place finish at this season's Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic presented by Corona losing out in the semifinal to current World No. 1 Gabriel Medina.

Morais is currently listed in the Olympic surfing heat draw and was scheduled to surf against Japan's Kanoa Igarashi, France's Jeremy Flores and Peru's Miguel Tudela.

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