When the Italian National Team landed in Tokyo on Tuesday for the Olympic Games, there was one notable absence in the form of World Champion and national record holder Simona Quadarella.
Quadarella, the reigning world champion in the 1500m freestyle, had to postpone her departure to Japan due to Gastroenteritis, which is a short-term illness caused by the infection or inflammation of the intestinal system. According to the Mayo Clinic, it can result in symptoms such as watery, usually nonbloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps and pain, nausea, vomiting, occasional muscle aches, headache, and a low-grade fever. Although there is no known effective treatment for the illness, it generally clears up itself.
Although she missed the team’s flight and a few days in the pool due to the illness, Quadarella is expected to fly out within the next three or four days alongside her coach Christian Monotti. Currently, the rest of the Olympic team is in Tokorosawa preparing for the meet.
In Tokyo, Quadarella is entered to race the 400m freestyle, 800m freestyle, and 1500m freestyle events. The 400 freestyle will be Quaderella’s first event as it occurs on the first day of the competition. In the 1500, she’s a favorite to make the podium after winning the 2019 World Championship title in a time of 15:40.89, which makes her the 4th fastest performer in history. Notably, American world record holder Katie Ledecky was absent from that race due to an illness. Quadarella is also expected to contend for a podium finish in the 800m freestyle, where she is the reigning World Championship silver medalist with a personal best of 8:14.99.
Quadarella has already been as fast as 15:48.81 and 8:20.23 in those events this year, ranking her 3rd and 4th in the world for 2021, respectively.
Ledecky’s odds of winning just got better. Unfortunate for the Italian hopefully she competes at full strength and gets on the podium
Ledecky lucky, hopefully she will be at her best in Tokyo, I believe she has a shot to challenge for gold in 800/1500