Ariarne Titmus in worrying news after Swimming Australia photo shoot
Ariarne Titmus has tested positive for Covid-19 just days after a promo shoot for Speedo alongside a number of Australian swimming stars.
The Olympic gold medallist took part in the promotional event for Speedo on the Gold Coast on Wednesday for the unveiling of Australia's suits for the Commonwealth Games in July.
However Titmus reportedly left the event early because she was feeling unwell.
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On Friday, Swimming Australia announced that the 21-year-old had tested positive for Covid.
“Ariarne has returned a positive test and has been isolating appropriately,” a spokesperson from Swimming Australia said.
Titmus appeared alongside Dolphins teammates Emma McKeon, Zac Stubblety-Cook, Mack Horton, Mollie O’Callaghan, Elijah Winnington and Lani Pallister.
The positive result sparked concerns that the team's travel plans would be impacted, with the Dolphins scheduled to fly to Spain on Saturday for a staging camp ahead of the world titles in Budapest on June 18.
O’Callaghan and Winnington also train with Titmus in Brisbane at St Peters Western Pool.
However Swimming Australia moved to dismiss fears.
“Those other athletes who attended the launch are following the relevant precautions as set out by the Team Doctor and all have returned negative tests," the spokesperson said.
“There is no delay to the planned travel over the weekend.”
The other athletes are being closely monitored despite the negative results.
Ariarne Titmus skipping world championships
Titmus is skipping the world championships in Budapest and will instead focus on the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, starting in July.
Titmus famously beat American legend Katie Ledecky in the 400m final at the Tokyo Olympics and broke her world record in the same event at the Australian trials last month.
The 21-year-old is contemplating a European holiday after the Commonwealth Games, meaning she would miss August's Duel in the Pool in Sydney and another Titmus-Ledecky match-up.
"Still deciding on Duel in the Pool," she said on Wednesday.
"Definitely it's something I'd love to do; I know people are looking to see if I'll be racing Katie, it's always a very highly anticipated battle.
"I've had to learn how to race on my own and whenever I race her I feel like I'm actually in a race.
"So I love that, but the battle with her comes with external pressure.
"Last year was huge for me, mentally too, a lot of pressure around my races.
"I didn't really want to have to deal with that pressure again (by competing at the World Championships)."
Instead she hopes to channel the freedom she felt at Adelaide's national titles in Birmingham, and go even faster again.
"I'd like to think so," she said.
"I shouldn't be swimming my fastest at trials, I should be swimming my best at the meets that matter.
"I was not ready to rush around and be on the plane by Saturday to leave (for the Worlds).
"I'd love to go out and defend my World Championship but I'm thinking about Paris (2024 Games) and the Commonwealth Games, from what I remember on the Gold Coast was so fun."
with AAP
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