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Even Covid-19 couldn’t prevent British swimming superstar Adam Peaty from growing his legacy at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Peaty, the two-time defending Olympic champion in the 100-meter breaststroke, tied for second with American Nic Fink in his this year’s edition just .02 of a second behind Italian Nicolo Martinenghi.
But it turns out there’s more to the story. Team GB confirmed Monday morning that Peaty tested positive for Covid-19 following his silver-medal swim.
Which means that, in all likelihood, Peaty was also competing with Covid-19, making his swim all that much more remarkable.
Adam Peaty Competed In 100-Meter Breaststroke Final Despite Covid Symptoms
The federation revealed that Peaty was “feeling unwell” in the hours ahead of the evening session before his symptoms became worse on Monday.
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,” a Team GB spokesperson told The Athletic.
Peaty swam the breaststroke leg of Team GBs’ 4 x 100 medley relay in both Rio and Tokyo, helping his team to silver both times around. He was and is still planning to do the same in Paris.
“He is hopeful to be back in competition for the relay events later in the swimming program,” Team GB’s statement noted. “As in any case of illness, the situation is being managed appropriately, with all usual precautions being taken to keep the wider delegation healthy.”
Peaty, 29, was emotional following his finals swim.
“(His son) George normally goes, ‘Daddy, are you the fastest boy?’ and I would’ve said, ‘Not today.'” Peaty said in an interview. “But he says, ‘I love you Daddy’ And that’s all I care about.”
He then told the BBC how much the opportunity to compete in another Olympic Games meant to him.
“I love the sport and I love how far it’s taken me and the challenge every single day,” Peaty said through tears. “These are happy tears because I don’t think anybody could have done it other than me.”