Janice R. Andrews
PARIS: Athletes, including two American swimmers, are among the many who have contracted COVID-19 at the current Olympics in Paris. The athletes are treated like other respiratory ailments and are not forced to withdraw from competition in spite of positive test results.
The infection forced Australian swimmer Lani Pallister to pull out of her 1500-meter freestyle competition on Tuesday morning. Despite being impacted by COVID-19 during the 100-meter breaststroke final and swimming more than two seconds slower than his personal best, Adam Peaty, who tested positive on Sunday night, was still able to earn silver.
Around the pool, competitors, coaches, and support personnel have been seen wearing masks more frequently as worries about the virus’s possible effects on the swimmers’ Olympic performance have grown.
David Johnston and Luke Whitlock, the two American swimmers who tested positive, were relocated to a hotel outside of the Olympic Village. They had been lodging in an apartment with five other American swimmers, SwimSwam said on Tuesday. SwimSwam identified the affected individuals, but a representative for USA Swimming declined to corroborate the adverse test results.
Johnston will be competing in the open-water marathon in the River Seine next week, as well as the men’s 1500-meter freestyle this coming weekend. Whitlock, who has previously participated in the 800-meter freestyle, failed not make it to the final after finishing 15th in the preliminary heats.
COVID-19Since the virus severely hampered activities and athletes’ performances at the Beijing Winter Games and Tokyo Summer Olympics, 19 measures have been loosened. It no longer disqualifies athletes from competition automatically. The virus still affects specific athletes, though. The illness forced many cyclists to withdraw from the Tour de France earlier this month, and on the eve of the Paris Games, the Australian women’s water polo team was dealing with numerous cases.
To continue performing at their best, athletes and their teams have modified their tactics. Mask use was mandated at last month’s French swimming competitions following multiple positive instances. In order to keep COVID-19 from upsetting swimmers like Leon Marchand, coaches and officials placed a strong emphasis on “protecting” them.
As the Paris Olympics move forward, athletes’ safety and a seamless Games remain the top priorities, notwithstanding the persistent difficulties caused by COVID-19.
