Evidence of growing concern regarding the influence of Covid on the swimming events of the Olympics surfaced on Tuesday night, as coaching teams from multiple nations, including Team GB, were seen wearing masks in the stands at La Défense Arena. There is no enforced policy to withdraw from the Games in the event of Covid, allowing countries to devise their own strategies for athletes and staff.
Adam Peaty announced that he had tested positive after securing a silver medal in the 100m breaststroke on Sunday evening. Peaty remains hopeful about recovering in time to participate in the relay events over the weekend. The situation quickly escalated beyond Team GB.
Australia’s Lani Pallister pulled out of the women’s 1500m freestyle following a positive Covid diagnosis. She hopes to recover swiftly enough to join her compatriots in the 4x200m freestyle relay on Thursday, where they are strong contenders. Prior to the Games, it was revealed that five female Australian water polo players had also contracted Covid.
As first reported on the swimming website swimswam.com, Team USA’s David Johnston and Luke Whitlock are also suspected to have the virus. The report indicated that both swimmers have been relocated from the athletes’ village to a hotel. A Team USA representative stated, “We do not disclose athlete health information publicly. We do not have mandatory masking or testing protocols, but we encourage our athletes to take any measures they feel comfortable with, in line with the team doctors.”
The next reported Covid case involves Vlad Stancu of Romania, the European junior champion, who is anticipated to miss the men’s 1500m freestyle event this week. Romanian coaches were seen wearing masks prior to Tuesday night’s session. In the stands, various staff members from the Netherlands, Team GB, Australia, and Germany adhered to the same practice. It is reported that Team GB’s guidelines pertain to protocols for any illness rather than being specifically Covid-related. Matt Richards, who narrowly missed qualifying for the 100m freestyle final for Team GB, expressed optimism regarding Peaty’s condition. “Adam’s doing okay; he’s not in serious trouble,” he remarked. “He’s just experiencing mild cold symptoms. While it’s discomforting, he’ll manage. We’re doing everything possible to avoid contamination.” Richards is confident that Peaty will compete in both the 4x100m medley and 4x100m mixed medley relays. “I have no doubt about that,” Richards emphasized. “His track record speaks for itself. If he can be at full capacity, he will be. That’s all there is to it.”
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Another Team GB swimmer, Jacob Whittle, mentioned that wearing masks has become a standard practice among athletes. “We’re just tightening our precautions,” he stated. “We’re sanitizing our hands and wearing masks wherever possible. The only time we’re not wearing a mask is when we’re swimming and during media interactions. We’re just being extra careful when eating, on buses, and in shared spaces. It’s all about being cautious—not just to protect ourselves, but also to prevent spreading it to others.”
