The Russian Olympic team has suffered a sensitive loss due to the coronavirus.
Swimmer Ilya Borodin will not be able to compete in Tokyo.
He passed a positive test at a training camp in Vladivostok before flying out to the competition.
This is the first case of infection in the national team, which led to the forced refusal to participate in the Games.
At the age of 18, Borodin was deservedly considered one of the contenders for a medal at a distance of 400 meters in complex swimming.
In May, he became the first Russian swimmer in 40 years to win the European Championship gold on it.
In the final, the native of Bryansk swam in 4: 10.02 and updated the junior world record.
This is the sixth best result among all swimmers this season.
At the same time, Borodin is only a second behind the leader of this discipline, Daiya Seto from Japan - at such a long distance it is not considered a big lag.
In Tokyo, Borodin was supposed to start one of the first in the Russian team - qualifying heats in the 400-meter complex will take place on July 24, and the final will take place the next day.
He was also declared at a distance half as long, at which medals will be awarded on July 30.
Borodin did not have an opportunity to pass a negative test and have time to join the team, so only Andrei Zhilkin and Maxim Stupin will represent Russia in the integrated swimming, whose chances for medals are rather small.
The All-Russian Swimming Federation said that the national team followed all the requirements of Rospotrebnadzor in order to avoid infection.
The rest of the athletes, coaches and specialists passed negative tests and on the morning of July 22 will be able to fly from Vladivostok to Tokyo, said the first vice-president of the federation Viktor Avdienko.
“Unfortunately, due to a positive test, Ilya Borodin will not take part in the Olympic Games.
The second test before departure showed the presence of coronavirus.
He will not be able to go with the team.
Ilya is one of the most disciplined people in the national team, he observed all safety measures, but, unfortunately, it did happen.
He is in isolation.
The disease is asymptomatic.
The rest of the athletes have everything in order with the tests, the team will fly to Tokyo on July 22, ”RIA Novosti quotes Avdienko.
Borodin himself said that he feels good and is in excellent physical shape.
He found it difficult to explain where he could get infected, despite the fact that other swimmers have successfully obtained admission.
“I learned about the positive test yesterday.
I will stay in Vladivostok until I pass a negative test.
I even wore a mask in the elevator.
I just do not understand where I could have picked up this virus.
Everything in the team is negative ... I have not been vaccinated, I am asymptomatic.
Just a carrier, so they isolated.
I feel great.
And, judging by the training, I was ready well.
I can't say in seconds, but for my best result - for sure, "Borodin told Sport-Express.
The athlete admitted that at first he took such a blow very hard, but a day later he resigned himself to the fact that the upcoming Olympics would be held without his participation.
“I was very upset yesterday.
I could not even understand at all what happened and how it could be, since I have no symptoms, and I feel as usual.
Nothing boded for this positive test.
While few people know about what happened, I am in isolation, so they handed me chips and cola as a sign of support.
It was unrealistically difficult for both me and the coach yesterday, the main thing is that nothing literally depends on me and nothing can change.
You can't do anything already.
Resigned ... Practically, "RIA Novosti quotes Borodin.
Stanislav Pozdnyakov, President of the Russian Olympic Committee, expressed regret that the 18-year-old swimmer would not be able to perform in Tokyo.
According to him, all teams in different sports were aware of how important it is to observe safety measures in preparation for the Games.
“It is sincerely a pity that Borodin is forced to miss the Olympics due to a positive test for coronavirus. I wish him good health and get back into action as soon as possible. Loss for the team and sporting misfortune for Ilya himself. At the same time, it is upsetting that the antiquated measures taken at the final stage of the team's preparation in Vladivostok did not give the desired result. Although we have repeatedly discussed this with all our colleagues, ”Pozdnyakov said.
Borodin is the only swimmer to miss the Tokyo Games so far due to the coronavirus. Earlier it was reported that Lithuanian Giedrius Titenis tested positive before coming to Japan, but subsequent checks showed that the results were false, so he was able to stay with the team. In other sports, there are losses - European vice-champion in skateboard Candy Jacobs from the Netherlands and the first number in shooting at the round stand Amber Hill from Great Britain will not perform at the Olympics.