Boglarka Kapas, who won bronze in the 800m freestyle at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, has announced she has tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19).
The Hungarian, who also won gold in the 200m butterfly at last year’s World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, revealed the news on social media before admitting to experiencing a spectrum of emotions on finding out she had tested positive.
In an interview with the National Sport (NS) website, Kapas said:
“I cried to myself … I found out on Monday morning that my test was positive, and after hearing about (how) the epidemic is everywhere and all about us, of course you feel very scared!
“That’s so even if I have no symptoms – and I have none. By the end of the day, I’d collected my thoughts and thought, right, I need to tell my fans, those who cheered me on.”
She announced her news on Instagram, saying:
“I’ve (been) tested positive for Covid19. I don’t have any symptoms yet and that’s why it’s important for you to know that even if you feel healthy you can spread the virus. please be careful, stay at home and stay healthy.❤️”
News of Kapas’ positive was followed by more bad news, when Dominik Kozma, David Horvath and Richard Bohus confirmed their own positive tests with five other cases yet to be named.
It follows the news last week that London 2012 100m breaststroke champion Cameron van der Burgh was battling the coronavirus.
There were messages of support from Jazz Carlin – who won 800 free silver at Rio 2016 – and Femke Heemskerk, winner of the 2008 4x100m free relay with the Netherlands.
London Roar, for whom Kapas competed in the inaugural International Swimming League in 2019, said “Look after yourself ????” while double Olympic silver medallist James Guy posted: “Stay safe bogi ????”
Boglarka Kapas Faces Her Fears And Channels Resilience
Photo Courtesy: LEN
The six-time European champion told NS that on the group’s return from Thailand they were each tested twice four days apart.
Kapas’ first test was negative but her fears were realised when her second produced a positive result.
“I cried to myself … I found out on Monday morning that my test was positive, and after hearing about the epidemic is everywhere and all about us, of course you feel very scared! That’s so even if I have no symptoms – and I have none. By the end of the day, I’d collected my thoughts and thought, right, I need to tell my fans, those who cheered me on.”
“People’s concern, encouragement is touching! Perhaps my going public may serve as a warning for people to really pay attention to everything! To take care of each other!”
“And, of course, he was reassuring. For example, it’s okay to get a virus infection because I’d rather go through it now than months later as we get closer to the race season.”
“No, but they also warned me not to look on the different websites for what I should feel.“Anyway, I’m prone to the symptoms if I’m scared of a disease. But now there is none. I hope I persevere, and I will not be afraid in the future. They asked me to measure my fever regularly, but obviously I would feel if my body temperature were to rise.”