Covid-ridden Adam Peaty was seen hugging his family and other competitors before testing positive for the virus today – raising concerns he might become the Olympics‘ super-spreader.
The 29-year-old swimming sensation missed out on a fourth gold medal by 0.02 seconds in a dramatic breaststroke final on Sunday night.
However, it later emerged that he had begun feeling unwell in the build-up to the event and subsequently returned a positive test on Monday morning.
Peaty was photographed embracing his girlfriend Holly Ramsay and son, George following the race and also hugged competitor Nicolo Martinenghi to congratulate him on his gold medal.
He was later pictured shaking hands with fellow silver medalist Nic Fink and Martinenghi on the podium.
The densely-populated nature of the Olympic village has led to concerns that the virus may be spreading rapidly among athletes.
Adam Peaty hugs his son, George, and girlfriend Holly Ramsay after his race on Sunday
Peaty hugged competitor Nicolo Martinenghi to congratulate him on his gold medal
Gold medallist Nicolo Martinenghi celebrates on the podium with silver medallist Adam Peaty
Adam Peaty receives the silver medal in the 100m breaststroke on Sunday
Peaty hugged competitor Nicolo Martinenghi to congratulate him on his gold medal
Peaty was pictured shaking hands with fellow silver medalist Nic Fink and Martinenghi on the podium
On person posted on X: ‘The morning after tying for silver with Nic Fink, Adam Peaty tests positive for COVID. They shared the step on the podium last night…’
Another added: ‘As if he hadn’t overcome enough to get to the Olympic podium now we find out Adam Peaty has Covid!
‘Hope he recovers quickly – reported he’ll be back for the medley relays – and it doesn’t spread in the team.’
Peaty was seeking to become only the second man to win the same swimming event at three consecutive Olympics, following American legend Michael Phelps.
Despite being well placed with 25m to go he suffered anguish right at the finish and ended in a tie for second with American Nic Fink.
A Team GB spokesperson 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. 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 was reduced to tears after the race. ‘I am not crying because I have come second,’ he told the BBC. ‘I am crying because of how much it took to get here.
‘In my heart I have won. These are happy tears.’ The medal took Peaty’s Olympic tally to six – three golds and three silvers.
The star admitted post-race that he had woken up with a sore throat, but insisted it was not an excuse after missing out on gold.
Adam Peaty tested positive for Covid after winning silver in the men’s 200m breaststroke
Peaty had felt ill ahead of the race, as he agonisingly missed out on a third straight gold
The breaststroke star remains hopeful of recovering in time to feature in the relay events
‘I had a curveball this morning with my throat, but that is no excuse,’ he said. ‘I wasn’t feeling 100 per cent but I don’t really care because I’ve won against people who weren’t feeling 100 per cent in the past. Tonight, it was my turn.
‘You can train eight years for something and not feel 100 per cent on the day. And not being 100 per cent costs you 0.02, and that’s just the way it is.’
Peaty then stressed that his priority was now to contribute to Team GB’s success in the relay events.
Should Peaty be unable to compete, it would be a major blow to medal hopes in both the mixed and men’s 4x100m medley relay events.
Peaty was key as Team GB triumphed in the mixed event at the Tokyo Olympics, while the men’s team were silver medallists.
The heats and final of the mixed medley relay are on Friday, with the men’s event taking place the following day.
Peaty had been magnanimous in defeat on Sunday night, insisting his tears were not because he did not win a third successive gold medal, but because of how hard it has been to come back after experiencing depression last year.
‘It’s not sad at all,’ he said. ‘Anyone that has done sport, if you are willing to put yourself on the line every single time, there is no such thing as a loss.
‘People are already saying, ‘Are you happy with a silver?’ and I’m like, ‘Yes’. This is my sixth Olympic medal and the 14-year-old that started out on this crusade would be thinking, ‘Six Olympic medals, three of them gold, still the world record holder in two events, you can’t beat that’.
‘It’s broken me this sport, but it’s also given me life, it’s given me everything I am. I am happy to stand here with not really any answers to what that performance is – but with a happy heart. That is all that matters.’
After the race at La Defense Arena, a tearful Peaty – who shared the silver with American Nic Fink – met his three-year-old boy George, his girlfriend Holly Ramsay and mother Caroline.
Asked about his conversation with George, Peaty said: ‘He normally goes, ‘Daddy, are you the fastest boy?’ and I would have said, ‘Not today’. But he just said, ‘I love you Daddy’, and that’s all I care about.
‘When I hugged George, as soon as I saw his curly hair, I was gone, I was crying. I feel like I’ve been stung by a bee because I feel so swollen in my face because I’ve been crying so much.
‘That’s all I do it for now. I did this for my son. These whole 14 months have been to show you can literally bottom of the bottom and come back and medal.
‘Any parent, anyone who has that love, it’s just a different type of love, something that swimming can’t give me any more.
‘Your whole perspective in life changes. My responsibility changes so much because of my son.’
