FINA Confirms 37 Positive COVID Tests, Including 15 Athletes, at Short Course Worlds
At the conclusion of a Short Course World Championships where COVID-19 was a major factor, with numerous big-name athletes ruled out of their events because of either a positive test or a close contact, FINA revealed in a statement that “less than 40” accredited individuals had tested positive.
One day later, FINA has revealed that the total number of positive tests was 37 and that 15 of those testing positive were athletes. That number includes those competing in other aquatic disciplines during the concurrent FINA Aquatics Festival.
Those who tested positive remain isolated in their hotel rooms, and given the recommended 10-day isolation period, most of those individuals will not make it home in time for Christmas. The rapid spread of the new and more contagious Omicron variant around the globe has made a significant impact on sporting events, and that is an unfortunate trend that will likely continue into 2022.
On day two of Short Course Worlds, 200 free Olympic champion Tom Dean missed his signature event because he was a close contact, and he was later ruled out of the meet, and then on day three, Americans Lydia Jacoby and Katie Grimes were knocked out of the meet because of COVID protocols. The following day, three Americans (Michael Andrew, Rhyan White and Michael Brinegar) withdrew and returned to the U.S., a move that USA Swimming said was made “out of an abundance of caution.” More recently, Great Britain’s Max Litchfield was forced to isolate after testing positive, and he made the best out of the situation by posting an entertaining TikTok video showing how he was occupying his time in his hotel room.
- Short Course World Championships full coverage
- Live results
- Day one women’s recap
- Day one men’s recap
- Day two women’s recap
- Day two men’s recap
- Day three women’s recap
- Day three men’s recap
- Day four women’s recap
- Day four men’s recap
- Day five prelims recap
- Day five women’s recap
- Day five men’s recap
- Day six women’s recap
- Day six men’s recap
Was anyone actually sick? Or did people just test positive? Or is this just a known unknown?
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