Britain’s Olympic swimming medal haul is under serious threat, with Adam Peaty in a race against time to compete in weekend relay events after testing positive for Covid. Team GB’s newly introduced safety measures were in evidence on Monday evening at La Défense Arena, where coaches and other backroom staff members wore face masks around athletes before the races got under way.
Peaty complained of a sore throat in the immediate aftermath of winning silver in the 100m breaststroke on Sunday evening. The 29-year-old had been denied a third gold medal in succession. By Monday afternoon, the British Olympic Association released a statement expanding on his medical situation. All parties are privately upbeat about the chances of Peaty returning to the pool but an obvious element of uncertainty remains, including about his likely buildup.
The BOA statement read: “Adam Peaty began feeling unwell on Sunday, ahead of his men’s 100m breaststroke final. In the hours after the final, his symptoms became worse and he was tested for Covid early on Monday morning. He tested positive at that point.
“He is hopeful to be back in competition for the relay events 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.”
After Duncan Scott’s fourth‑place finish in the 200m freestyle, where his teammate Matt Richards took silver, Scott said Team GB athletes are well aware of their obligations to others featuring in the Paris Olympics.
Scott had been unaware news of Peaty’s situation had reached the public domain, which is understandable given necessary preparations for his own event.
“Everyone is taking precautions,” Scott said. “The British team were pretty quick to act on things, how quickly they picked it up and stuff like that. Paramount is his health rather than anything else.
“On top of that it is making sure we limit it as much as possible, how far it spreads not only within our team but for everyone else. As much as we are here to compete, obviously we don’t want other people to get ill as well. There’s mask wearing, hygiene, things like that.”
Scott cut a despondent figure after missing out on a medal. “I’m pretty disappointed as you can probably imagine,” he said. “Fourth is pretty rotten for anyone. I was so close again. I’m really happy for Matt, it’s cool for him.”
Peaty’s availability or otherwise is likely to have a huge impact on the complexion of British swimming after the Olympics. Team GB will be expected to compete for gold if Peaty recovers to take his place in both the 4x100m medley and 4x100m mixed medley competitions. Without him, their task looks a stiff one.
On social media on Monday Peaty offered thanks to those around him and explained why news of his diagnosis had been made public. “I am always an advocate for complete transparency in sport as there are so many gears to make it all work,” he said. “As per the British Olympic Association press release, I tested positive for Covid this morning after feeling unwell yesterday. I’ll now be focusing on a fast, full recovery to give my best in the team relays later in the week.”
Ollie Morgan, speaking after his appearance in the 100m backstroke final, echoed Scott’s sentiment about necessary measures within the Team GB camp. “We have all the precautions in place so we should all be fine,” Morgan said. “It’s not something that fazes us, we know everyone will be safe. We have the best health team out there.”
Albeit there have been no broader reports of illness within Team GB, five Australian women’s water polo players tested positive for Covid in Paris on 24 July. While Team GB’s precise policy with Peaty is unclear, Australia’s team chief, Anna Meares, said of her competitors: “They’ve been wearing their masks, they’re isolating from other team members when they’re not training, they’re not going into the high-volume areas like the gym and the performance pantry, and more broadly we have our respiratory illnesses protocol in place.”
Speaking before the Tokyo Games in 2021, Peaty confirmed he had received both shots of the Covid‑19 vaccine. “I’ve taken every single measure to make sure I’m not going to spread it to anyone if I did have it,” Peaty said three years ago. “I wear double masks. That’s all I can do.
“Some athletes are coming out here without any vaccinations. You’ve got to ask them the same question. Unfortunately, it’s not an easy one to answer.”
Monday’s star of the pool was the Canadian teenager Summer McIntosh, who romped to victory in the women’s 400m individual medley.
