Denied ticket over COVID, Guinean Olympian clings to dream

Freestyle wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara, of Guinea, walks in Rome, Italy, where she is training Saturday, July 3, 2021. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)

Freestyle wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara, of Guinea,foreground, pictured prior to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine at the Santo Spirito hospital in Rome, Saturday, July 3, 2021. In background, from left, United World Wrestling Development Officer Vincent Aka, of Ivory Coast, coach Alexis Rodriguez, of Cuba, and wrestlers Diamantino Fafe' and Augusto Midana, both from Guinea Bissau. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)

Guinean wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara walks with her mother near her house in Conakry, Guinea, Monday July 19, 2021. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (AP Photo/Youssouf Bah)

Freestyle wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara, of Guinea, waits to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the Santo Spirito hospital in Rome, Saturday, July 3, 2021. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)

Guinean wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara, right, competes with Italian athlete Morena De Vita during her morning training session at the Ostia's Olympic training center, near Rome, Monday, July 5, 2021. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Guinean wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara poses for a portrait before the start of her afternoon training session in Ostia, near Rome, Monday, July 5, 2021. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Guinean wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara, right, holding past credentials and medals, is greeted at her house in Conakry, Guinea, Monday July 19, 2021. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (AP Photo/Youssouf Bah)

Guinean wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara, right, gets ready to go to pray at the mosque in Conakry, Guinea, Tuesday July 20, 2021. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (AP Photo/Youssouf Bah)

Guinean wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara, foreground, prays at the mosque in Conakry, Guinea, Tuesday July 20, 2021. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (AP Photo/Youssouf Bah)

Guinean wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara poses for a portrait at the end of her morning training session at the Ostia's Olympic training center, near Rome, Monday, July 5, 2021. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Guinean wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara combs her hair at her house in Conakry, Guinea, Wednesday July 21, 2021. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (AP Photo/Youssouf Bah)

Guinean wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara poses as she sits in the restaurant of the Ostia's Olympic training center, near Rome, Monday, July 5, 2021. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Freestyle wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara, of Guinea, waits to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the Santo Spirito hospital in Rome, Saturday, July 3, 2021. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)

Guinean wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara adjusts her hair during an afternoon training session in Ostia, near Rome, Monday, July 5, 2021. Coach Vincent Aka _ a former Olympian himself, managed to secure money for a two-week June training camp in Italy. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Guinean wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara, warms up during an afternoon training session in Ostia, near Rome, Monday, July 5, 2021. Coach Vincent Aka _ a former Olympian himself, managed to secure money for a two-week June training camp in Italy. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Guinean wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara adjusts her hair in her room of the Ostia's Olympic training center, near Rome, Monday, July 5, 2021. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Guinean wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara is welcomed by family members as she arrives at her house in Conakry, Guinea, Monday July 19, 2021. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (AP Photo/Youssouf Bah)

Guinean wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara holds past credentials and medals at her house in Conakry, Guinea, Monday July 19, 2021. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (AP Photo/Youssouf Bah)

Guinean wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara, left, compete with Wilfredo Garcia, trainer of the Italian female wrestling team during an afternoon training session in Ostia, near Rome, Monday, July 5, 2021. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Women wash clothes at the house of Guinean wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara in Conakry, Guinea, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (AP Photo/Youssouf Bah)

Guinean wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara waits to know of she will go or not to the Tokyo Olympics at her home, in Conakry, Guinea, Wednesday July 21, 2021. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (AP Photo/Youssouf Bah)

In this handout photo, Guinean wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara is photographed on the plane taking her to Tokyo from Conakry, Guinea, Friday July 23, 2021. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (via AP)

In this image made from a video, Guinean freestyle wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara, foreground, arrives with a delegation of athletes, at Narita International Airport in Narita, east of Tokyo, Sunday, July 25, 2021. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (AP Photo/Alessandro Libri)

Guinean wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara, foreground, fills out immigration forms at the airport as she departs for Tokyo in Conakry, Guinea, Friday July 23, 2021. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (AP Photo/Youssouf Bah)

Freestyle wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara, of Guinea, receives the COVID-19 vaccine at the Santo Spirito hospital in Rome, Saturday, July 3, 2021. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)

Guinean wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara runs at the end of her morning training session at the Ostia's Olympic training center in Ostia, near Rome, Monday, July 5, 2021. Coach Vincent Aka _ a former Olympian himself, managed to secure money for a two-week June training camp in Italy. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Guinean wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara waits to know of she will go or not to the Tokyo Olympics at her house in Conakry, Guinea, Wednesday July 21, 2021. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (AP Photo/Youssouf Bah)

Guinean wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara, left competes with Italian athlete Morena De Vita during her morning training session at the Ostia's Olympic training center, near Rome, Monday, July 5, 2021. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Guinean wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara, foreground, prays at the mosque in Conakry, Guinea, Tuesday July 20, 2021. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (AP Photo/Youssouf Bah)

Freestyle wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara, of Guinea, waits to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the Santo Spirito hospital in Rome, Saturday, July 3, 2021. A West African wrestler's dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to qualify for these Games. She was ready for Tokyo, but confusion over travel reigned for weeks. The 25-year-old and her family can't afford it. Guinean officials promised a ticket, but at the last minute announced a withdrawal from the Olympics over COVID-19 concerns. Under international pressure, Guinea reversed its decision. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)