The Krugloe Lake Republican Olympic Center, the main platform for training Russian national teams in several sports, may turn out to be a hotbed of coronavirus infection. Two athletes who have been training there recently are awaiting the results of testing for COVID-19 after they have developed symptoms of the disease.
The saber fencer, bronze medalist of the European Championship Dmitry Danilenko and his girlfriend, fencer Daria Martynyuk were suspected. From March 6 to 8, Danilenko played at the World Cup in Luxembourg, after which he returned with his team to Germany through Moscow. Martyniuk on the same dates participated in the Grand Prix stage in Budapest, after which COVID-19 was diagnosed in a number of athletes from China and South Korea.
Upon returning home, Danilenko took part in a weekly gathering at Lake Krugly, although by that time the mayor of Moscow had begun to act on a two-week self-isolation of those who arrived in the capital from countries with unfavorable epidemiological conditions. A few days later, in the Moscow Department of Health, the athlete was informed that he must undergo a two-week quarantine at home with Martynyuk living with him. At first, both athletes did not have any symptoms of the disease, but recently they have appeared.
“I can’t say that one of us is feeling bad. Just a cough appeared and fever - 37 degrees and a little higher. Yesterday was the last day of my quarantine, the temperature is still raised, ”Danilenko told RIA Novosti on March 23.
The fencer noted that the ambulance doctors who arrived at their place of residence in Khimki near Moscow recommended that they contact a special service at the place of registration in Moscow. At the same time, ambulance doctors did not find wheezing in the lungs of athletes - one of the signs of coronavirus. However, the couple wanted to take the test and was able to do it on Tuesday.
“Specialists from the Federal Biomedical Agency have just come to our home and have taken tests. We will wait for the results, ”Danilenko said.
The head coach of the Russian fencing team Ilgar Mammadov said that in case of positive results, the national team will have canceled the Olympic training camp in Sochi, which starts this week. He noted that Danilenko and Martynyuk contacted a large number of people after returning to Russia.
“If this diagnosis is confirmed by our athletes, it means that I will be forced to close the planned training camp of the national team in Sochi, which should begin on March 28. As I learned from the doctor, both Danilenko and Martynyuk have a fever and a dry cough. I would like to believe that this has nothing to do with this disease. But we must be 100% sure. And if the disappointing diagnosis is confirmed, you can imagine how many people will need to be checked, ”Mammadov said.
Earlier, the mentor claimed that the Russian Fencing Federation would ask for testing of its athletes who came from abroad after it became known about six cases of infection in Budapest.
“We received a letter from the International Fencing Federation (FIE) stating that three Chinese and three Korean athletes had a coronavirus detected upon arrival from Hungary. More than 20 of our athletes performed in Budapest. After returning from Hungary, they were at a weekly gathering at the Krugloye Lake, and then were taken home. None of our athletes have symptoms of the disease. However, the FIE in its letter notes that some of those who were diagnosed with coronavirus had no symptoms. The Fencing Federation of Russia will send letters to all authorities so that not only fencers, but also all those who went to other competitions — male and female saber and foil teams ”are checked,” Mammadov said on March 21.
On the basis of Lake Krugloe, the Russian national teams in fencing, swimming, synchronized swimming, diving, water polo, gymnastics, freestyle and a number of Paralympic disciplines train. The director of the training center, Olga Domuladzhanova, said that after the symptoms found in Danilenko and Martynyuk, they do not plan to close the base yet.
“We all comply with the instructions of the chief medical officer, as well as the directives of our ministry of sports. Including to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection. We have a remote temperature measurement at the checkpoint, on the base we have repeatedly increased disinfection in all common areas. We are working normally. At the moment, there is no talk of closing the base. That the temperature rose at Danilenko ... The season is now difficult, spring. Many catch a cold, walks SARS and other things. From my point of view, there is no need to panic. That's what FMBA is needed to determine what’s wrong with the athlete. We hope for the best, ”said Domuladzhanova.