Erika Fairweather has been caught in a Covid-19 outbreak at the Fina World Championships.
The Dunedin swimmer had to sit out last night’s mixed 4×100m freestyle relay after returning a positive test for the virus.
Swimming New Zealand Olympic programme lead Gary Francis confirmed the positive test to the Otago Daily Times yesterday.
Speaking from Budapest, he said the 18-year-old had noticed a scratchy throat after being in contact with several Australians who had tested positive for the virus.
Aside from that, she was largely asymptomatic and isolating alone in her hotel room for six days.
The race was set to be her last of the World Championships, although the positive test will delay her departure for the Commonwealth Games preparation camp in Mallorca.
Francis will remain in Budapest with Fairweather and fellow Dunedin swimmer Ruby Heath, who begins her campaign in the open water races next week.
He said the New Zealand team had been taking every precaution to avoid contracting the virus, including mask-wearing and social distancing.
Fairweather had been among the "most professional" in that regard.
If she remains asymptomatic, she will join the Games team next week and resume training for the event in Birmingham, which begins on July 28.
There she will compete in the 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle.
It concludes a strong showing at the World Championships for Fairweather, highlighted by her sixth-place finish in the 400m freestyle.
Among the others confirmed to have tested positive for the virus is Australian distance star Lani Pallister.
Otago’s foray on to the world stage will continue on Monday as the open water events begin.
Heath is set to compete in the 5km, 10km and 25km distances on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday night respectively.
