by Mick the Ram

Great Britain’s Adam Peaty, who tearfully had to settle for Olympic silver in the 100m breaststrokefinal, has discovered less than 24 hours later that he was suffering from Covid.

The 29-year-old had been well placed 25m from the finish, but surprisingly was caught on the lunge for the wall by Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi  and was relegated to second spot by 0.02 seconds.

The Brit had been bidding to become only the second man, after the great American Michael Phelps, to win the same swimming event at three consecutive Olympics, but in the build up to the race he had felt unwell and a positive Covid-19 test possibly explained his defeat.

Unlike the last Games in Tokyo, there are no strict protocols around the disease in Paris, so he will be hoping to feel better in the coming days, as he was expected to be part of the relay teams which begin in just 4 days.

Pipped on the touch

In the race Peaty wrestled the lead from China’s Qin Haiyang shortly after the turn and once in front it is hard to recall him ever being caught before.

The Chinese swimmer was thought to be his closest rival after defeating the Brit several times last year, but in the end it would be the swimmer in lane 7, Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi who would end Peaty’s dream, as he snatched the gold in the very last stroke.

The American Nic Fink also finished strongly and was given an identical time to Peaty to share the the runners-up tag.

Record not to be

Nevertheless, for Peaty the silver represented an astonishing come back after several years of personal troubles, with alcohol and mental health issues forcing him to turn his back on the sport for a while, which came to a head after he broke his foot in 2022, ending his incredible eight-year unbeaten run over at the distance.

He had wanted to equal the great Michael Phelps’ record in winning the same swimming event at three consecutive Games, but despite being tearful in his post-swim interview, he conducted himself admirably.

Disappointed but not downhearted

Peaty stressed that simply getting to the Games was a big achievement and insisted that he was not sad at all. “When I touched the wall, I truly believed I’d got it but it wasn’t meant to be.

If I’d won it would have been a fairytale ending, but I’m not defining this whole journey back by whether I got a medal or not.”

“Happy Tears”

He made the point that it had been a very long way back and stressed that he had given it his “absolute all” and insisted that his tears were not because of the result: “I am crying because of how much it took to get here,” he said, stressing that they were “happy tears”.

The medal does take Peaty’s Olympic tally to a hugely impressive six – three golds and three silvers. He refused to be drawn on his future after the race, instead insisting his focus remains on the relays later in the meet.

Unwell feeling turns out to be Covid

He did mention during his interview however, that he had woken with “a little bit on my throat”, but refused to use that as an excuse.

“I had a curveball this morning (Sunday) with my throat and stuff. You can train eight years for something and not feel 100 per cent on a day. And 100 per cent costs you 0.02 and that’s just the way,” he said, adding philosophically, “that’s the cards I was dealt.”

Had to play a part

Then less than 24 hours later a Team GB statement explained that his condition had worsened overnight and that subsequently he had tested positive for coronavirus.

He no doubt will steer clear from blaming the condition on his marginal defeat, but it surely had to have contributed.

Fingers crossed for the relays

Whether he now swims as part of the men’s or mixed 4x100m medley relay squad remains to be seen.

The team’s spokesperson would only say they were: “hopeful he’d be back in competition,” adding: “as in any case of illness, the situation is being managed appropriately, with all usual precautions being taken to keep the wider delegation healthy.”