America crew at world swimming battles case of ‘acute gastroenteritis’ that damages efficiency

By STEPHEN WADE

SINGAPORE (AP) — The United States crew on the swimming world championships in Singapore is battling a case of “acute gastroenteritis” that compromised performances on Sunday, the opening day of eight days of competitors within the pool.

Nikki Warner, the spokeswoman for USA Swimming, confirmed the outbreak to The Associated Press and stated it had its roots at a coaching camp the American crew held in Phuket, Thailand, earlier than arriving in Singapore.

She stated all American swimmers had traveled to Singapore. She declined to say what number of had been affected with the infectious diarrhea.

At least three clearly have been impacted: Torri Huske, Luca Mijatovic and Claire Weinstein.

Defending Olympic 100-meter butterfly champion Huske was withdrawn from preliminary heats of her occasion on Sunday. The crew initially stated she was pulled to concentrate on relay occasions.

American 16-year-old Mijatovic swam the prelims of the 400 freestyle. His time of three:59.68 was virtually 15 seconds off his entry time, and it was clear he was beneath duress as he swam.

Weinstein, a promising 18 12 months outdated, was additionally pulled from the 400 freestyle.

Katie Ledecky, probably the most well-known swimmer on the American crew, carried out usually in her preliminary session on Sunday and didn’t look like affected.

The United States swim crew is making an attempt to rebound from a tough time a 12 months in the past on the Paris Olympics. The Americans received solely eight gold medals, their lowest whole because the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

That comparatively low whole nonetheless topped the medal desk adopted by Australia.

The males received just one gold medal in Paris, and that group is hoping to rebound in Singapore with a really younger males’s crew. Head coach Greg Meehan stated it is the youngest in reminiscence.

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