Adam Peaty, who missed out on a fourth gold medal by 0.02 seconds on Sunday night has tested positive for Covid.
The 29-year-old 100m swimming star was pipped at the post by Itay’s Nicolo Martinenghi in a dramatic breaststroke final.
However, it has now emerged that he began feeling unwell in the build up to the event and subsequently returned a positive test on Monday morning.
The Briton 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 as cited by Sports Central: ‘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.
He said: ‘I had a curveball this morning with my throat, but that is no excuse. ‘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.
He said: ‘It’s not sad at all. ‘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.
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