An outbreak of illness severely impacted the United States swim team just ahead of the World Aquatic Championships, leading to disappointing results on the first day of competition. The U.S. team was left without a gold medal, achieving only two bronze and one silver in the relay events, much to the surprise of fans and analysts alike.
Australia’s swimming teams showcased their strength in the pool, with both the men’s and women’s relay squads delivering dominant performances that thwarted the American team in their pursuit of gold. Team USA faced significant challenges leading up to the championship, as many swimmers were still recovering from an outbreak of “acute gastroenteritis,” believed to have originated at their training camp in Thailand. This illness forced several athletes to miss vital training sessions, and only a select few were unaffected by the outbreak on the day of the competition.
Reports indicated that some athletes required hospital treatment and intravenous fluids to recover. Notably, Olympic champion Torri Huske had to withdraw from the women’s 100m butterfly to concentrate on the relay, while world record holder Gretchen Walsh withdrew just before the relay event, although she did participate in the heats and semi-finals for the butterfly.
The stringent rules regarding relay line-ups meant that replacements for the injured swimmers required prior approval, typically granted only for health-related issues. In light of these challenges, swimmer Simone Manuel expressed pride in the team’s ability to secure a medal amidst the adversity they faced.
This outbreak is reminiscent of issues faced during previous major events, including the disruptions caused by COVID-19 at last year’s Olympic games. The health setbacks undoubtedly hindered Team USA’s performance at this event, with hopes for a stronger showing in the days to come. The Australian teams, having drawn first blood, set a competitive tone for the championships in Singapore.