British swimming star Adam Peaty tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday morning, hours after winning a silver medal in the 100m breaststroke at the Paris 2024 Games.
Last Sunday night, Peaty was just 0.02 seconds behind the unexpected winner of the final, Italian Nicolo Martinenghi, who prevented the Briton from achieving a third consecutive gold in this event.
“Adam Peaty became unwell on Sunday, ahead of his men’s 100m breaststroke final,” the UK Olympic delegation said in a statement on Monday. “In the hours following the final, his symptoms worsened and he was tested for Covid early on Monday morning. He tested positive at that time,” the statement said.
The British delegation is confident that its star, 29, will be fit for the relay events of the swimming tournament, which ends on August 4.
English
Adam Peaty tested positive for COVID-19 at the Paris Olympics on Monday, the British Olympic Committee (BOA) said, less than 24 hours after he was narrowly pipped to the line in his men’s 100-meter breaststroke final.
Peaty had been aiming to match Michael Phelps’ record of winning the same swim race at three straight Olympics but he woke up on Sunday morning with a sore throat. He lost the race by just 0.02 seconds to Italy’s Nicolò Martinenghi, meaning he shared the silver medal with Team USA’s Nic Fink.
The 29-year-old does not have to isolate from other athletes and does not have to test negative before competing again, but he will avoid making contact with others for the next few days.
Team GB and Peaty remain hopeful he will be able to compete in the relays later in the swimming programme.
“As in any case of illness, the situation is being managed appropriately, with all usual precautions being taken to keep the wider delegation healthy,” Team GB said. He said after Sunday’s race that he wouldn’t use any potential illness as an excuse, adding that he was delighted for Martinenghi.
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