British Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty has tested positive for COVID-19 at the Paris Games, hours after winning the silver medal in the men’s 100m breaststroke final Sunday.
Peaty, now a six-time Olympic medalist, “began feeling unwell on Sunday” before the event, and “his symptoms became worse” afterward, the British Olympic Association said in a statement Monday.
“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,” the British Olympic Association’s statement read, according to The Guardian.
The British Olympic Association added Monday that Peaty is “hopeful to be back in competition for the relay events later in the swimming programme [sic].”
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“As in any case of illness, the situation is being managed appropriately, with all usual precautions being taken to keep the wider delegation healthy,” the statement continued.
Peaty was seeking a three-peat in the men’s 100m breaststroke at the Paris Games following gold medal wins at the 2016 Rio Olympics and the Tokyo Games in 2021.
He was edged out by Italy’s Nicolò Martinenghi by 0.02 seconds.
“I gave my absolute all there and I executed it as well as I could,” Peaty said, per Team GB.
“It doesn’t matter what the time says on the board, I know that in my heart I’ve already won.”
Peaty, who previously took a break from the sport to focus on his mental health, added Sunday that he wasn’t “crying” because of a second-place finish, but “because it took so much to get here.”
“Everything I’ve done to this point has happened for a reason and I’m so happy that I can race the best in the world and still get joint second,” the 29-year-old said.
“In my heart I’ve won and these are happy tears because I said to myself that I would give my absolute best every single day and I have.”
Nic Fink of Team USA placed third in Sunday’s event.