Adam Peaty will not compete in this morning’s mixed 4x100m medley relay heats after being diagnosed with Covid-19 on Monday.
Peaty, 29, tested positive for Covid just a day after claiming silver in the Olympic men’s 100m breaststroke – missing out on a third consecutive gold by 0.02 seconds.
However, he handed Team GB a huge boost on Wednesday when he was pictured back in the pool for the first time since his diagnosis.
Provided he is clear of Covid, Peaty would still be allowed to compete in the final so long as Great Britain qualify – even if he misses the heats.
Matt Richards and Duncan Scott were rested in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay earlier this week but came in for the final to help Team GB successfully defend their gold medal.
Adam Peaty will not compete in this morning’s 4x100m medley relay heats after having Covid
The Team GB swimmer was pictured back in training just days after his positive Covid test
Peaty won gold in this event in Tokyo. Team GB will take to the water from 11.03am as they bid for a place in Saturday night’s final.
James Wilby will assume the breaststroke leg in Peaty’s absence and assist Kathleen Dawson, Joe Litchfield and Anna Hopkin.
Glasgow-born Wilby was a silver medalist in Tokyo as a heat swimmer in the men’s 4 x 100 metre medley relay, while he was 11th-fastest in this year’s 100m breaststroke semi-finals.
In a statement regarding Peaty this week, Team GB said: ‘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, meanwhile, released his own message to fans, saying: ‘I’ll now be focusing on a fast, full recovery to give my best in the team relays later in the week.
‘I’ve had so many messages and I’ll get back to you all, thank you for your support as it has truly been an unforgettable journey.’
Peaty has been the highest-profile case of Covid amid fears it could spread among the Olympic Village.
Some athletes believe that the issue is becoming a problem.
Peaty won silver in the men’s 100m breaststroke in Paris to add to his two Olympic golds
Team GB swimmer Adam Peaty tasted positive for Covid shortly after winning a silver medal
After winning silver, Peaty said: ‘It’s been a very long way back. I gave it my absolute all there. It doesn’t matter what the time says, or the result, because in my heart I have already won.
‘I’m not crying because I’ve come second. I am crying because it just took so much to get here. These are happy tears because I have given it my absolute best every single day and I can’t be upset about that.
‘It’s just incredibly hard. To win it once, and to win it again, and to try and win it again.
‘Everything I have done to this point has happened for a reason, and I am so happy I can race the best in the world and come second.
‘I am almost an older man here now. I can’t have that relentless pursuit every single day without a sacrifice of some sort.
‘It comes in many ways, my timing, my energy, my relationships. It is very hard to compete with the younger ones, but I am so happy with that because in my heart I couldn’t have done more.’
Peaty had qualified fastest for the final but got a slow start and trailed Qin Haiyang at the halfway mark. But Nicolo Martinenghi – who won the bronze behind Peaty at Tokyo three years ago – came roaring back in the final 50m to beat the Brit by a fingernail.
‘I woke up this morning with something on my neck,’ added Peaty – who was inches away from becoming just the second man after Michael Phelps to win the same swimming event at three Olympics.
Peaty narrowly missed out on a third straight Olympic breaststroke gold medal in Paris
The 29-year-old was beaten by Italian Nicolo Martinenghi (centre) by 0.02 seconds
Peaty was later seen greeting partner Holly Ramsay (right) and son George in the stands, with the 29-year-old again breaking down in tears after giving his son an emotional hug
Peaty’s exploits come after he endured ‘three years of hell’, suffering from depression and alcoholism following the difficult split from his long-term girlfriend
‘But these are not excuses, these are just things athletes have to go through to find a way.
‘To see Martinenghi win makes me so happy for him. I have raced him for a long time and it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. I’ve still got six Olympic medals.’
