Claire Weinstein Withdraws From Pan Pacific Swimming Championships After Bout of Meningitis

Olympic relay silver medalist Claire Weinstein has withdrawn from the 2026 Pan Pac Championships after battling viral meningitis. Weinstein revealed the analysis previous to final week’s US National Championships and mentioned that she would use that meet as a take a look at to see the place she was at after solely two weeks again in full coaching.

• The Pan Pac Championships run from August 10-15 in Irvine, California, with pool swimming starting August 12.

Weinstein introduced her choice late Monday night on Instagram.

Unfortunately, I’ve made the choice to not race on the Pan Pacific Championships subsequent week. This was extremely troublesome as representing my nation is without doubt one of the best honors, nevertheless I don’t need to put on the USA cap except I do know I’m ready to race at an elite degree.

3 weeks in a hospital mattress actually places issues into perspective and I’m simply grateful that I’m capable of be again within the water doing what I like once more. I’ll by no means take the grind without any consideration and belief I might be again 🙂

I want my teammates all one of the best and I can’t wait to observe everybody crush it in Irvine!! 💗💗

At Nationals, Weinstein completed forty fifth within the 50 free (26.14) and twenty first within the 100 free (55.45). Her finest instances in these occasions are 25.53 and 53.72, respectively.

Weinstein was scheduled to race as a part of the U.S. roster on the 2026 Pan Pac Championships within the 200 free, 400 free, 800 free, and 1500 free.

She was the World Championships bronze medalist within the 200 free final summer time and led off the silver-medal profitable 800 free relay for Team USA. Options for replacements* on that relay at Pan Pacs embrace Torri Huske and Simone Manuel, who’re already on the roster. All relays are timed finals occasions at Pan Pacs.

*USA Swimming confirmed that they received’t exchange her on the roster as a result of the substitute deadline has handed, so no Anna Moesch shock look.

The balancing information for the American outlook is that Australia, the World Championship gold medalists from final yr, will even be lacking a key leg in Mollie O’Callaghan, who withdrew from Pan Pacs with a again harm. Jamie Perkins, who additionally swam on that finals relay, received’t make the journey to Irvine both.

Weinstein, 19, not too long ago accomplished her freshman season at Cal. There she received the NCAA title within the 500 yard free. She has solely raced a single lengthy course meet since, a timed finals occasion on April 11 and 12.

According to the Mayo Clinic, meningitis is “an infection and swelling of the fluid and membranes around the brain and spinal cord.” Sometimes, meningitis can enhance with out remedy, however in different circumstances it results in demise and different long-term well being problems.

A 2023 study discovered that each one types of meningitis (together with the way more harmful bacterial type) infect greater than 2.5 million individuals globally annually and kill greater than 250,000.