Adam Peaty’s Olympic Games relay hopes suffer blow after Covid positive

Adam Peaty tested positive for Covid after being denied an historic golden treble at the Paris Olympics on Monday, the British Olympic Association has announced. The 29-year-old complained of a sore throat after missing out on a third consecutive 100m breaststroke gold medal by 0.02sec, and subsequently tested positive hours later.

However the BOA remain optimistic that Peaty will recover in time for the 4x100m medley and 4x100m mixed medley later in the week, as he seeks to add to the six Olympic medals he has achieved in his stellar career.

In a statement the BOA said: “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,” the BOA added. “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’s time of 59.05sec on Monday night was slower than he had swum in his semi-finals as he suffered a shock defeat to the Italian Nicolo Martinenghi. And when he spoke to the press afterwards he was clearly struggling although he insisted he did not want to use his sore throat as an excuse.

The 29-year-old conceded that he had been “just 1% or 2% out”. However he insisted: “These are not excuses, these are just things athletes have to go through to find a way. And to see Nicolo win makes me so happy for him. It couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.”

“I had to go through a few things, and I don’t want to go into detail,” he added. “It’s not really not an excuse. I used the logistics of the team to the best of my ability because I was not feeling 100%.”

Peaty also sounded philosophical about getting sick. “I don’t really care,” he said. “I have raced people that haven’t felt 100%. I have won against people who haven’t felt 100%. And unfortunately it was my turn. I really think that this moment was meant to be.”

“This is my sixth Olympic medal, three of them gold,. And I think the 14-year-old that started out on this crusade would have taken that. It’s broken me this sport, but it’s also given me life. It’s given me everything I am.”