Freestyle Ace Mack Horton Deals With Pre-Commonwealth Bee Sting

by Retta Race 12

March 26th, 2018 Australia, International, News

In addition to contending with pool temperatures on the warmer side of the spectrum at the Optus Aquatic Centre, which you can read about in more detail here, Olympic champion Mack Horton now has a bee sting issue heading into the Commonwealth Games.

While getting some pre-competition training done in Melbourne, the 21-year-old freestyle ace was stung by a bee, but it wound up being a bigger deal than just a bug bite.

‘I got stung by a bee the other day in training and my whole arm has blown up,’ Horton is quoted as saying in Aussie press. ‘My tricep doesn’t exist anymore, my elbow doesn’t exist anymore.

‘I put my arm up on the edge (of the pool) … and it’s gone bang! I assume (I’m allergic to bees) now. I haven’t been tested but this pretty much says ‘yes’,’ Horton said.

Sporting a protective sleeve upon his arrival at the Aussies’ training camp in Gold Coast, Horton is now on the vigilant lookout for any flying friends buzzing around camp.

‘Because I don’t have my glasses on (while training) I’m really cautious now and looking out everywhere just in case.’

Horton is set to compete in the 200m freestyle, 400m freestyle and 1500m freestyle individual events at the Commonwealth Games.

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sven
6 years ago

Looks like a couple of people are minimizing this, but I’m glad the reaction wasn’t worse. Bee stings are no joke if you’re allergic, especially if you don’t know it until it happens. Had a swimmer get stung at an outdoor meet once who didn’t know she was allergic and her reaction was severe enough that she had to leave the meet and go to the hospital. Scary stuff for all involved.

Sum Ting Wong
Reply to  sven
6 years ago

Besides the allergic reaction ( which can be fatal ) it depends where the bite is . On an elbow or handor foot it can impede function severely till the lymph system drains away the swelling .

I remember a mother who put Royal Jelly ( a bee hive face creme ) on her young daughter whose face & neck immediately swelled up & caused death .plenty of ppl do not know they are allergic .

Sir Swimsalot
6 years ago

comment image

John
Reply to  Sir Swimsalot
6 years ago

Somewhere in Australia, Adam peaty is at the breakfast table looking at swimswam and spitting his milk out in laughter

KeithM
6 years ago

Sounds like a superhero origin story. He even looks like a bee/human hybrid in the pic…hornet eyes for goggles.

Coach John
6 years ago

Dean Ferris would of stung the bee back

Snarky
6 years ago

And Caeleb Dressel saved the world, turned 401(k)’s into 1604(k)’s and added dean Farris as his superhero side kick. No wonder the Aussies stink every 4 years! ?

Uhhhhh
6 years ago

I got a paper cut before my end of season meet and ended up adding in everything!

Lpman
6 years ago

This one time, I was swimming, and another swimmer dove in and splashed me

Bear drinks beer
Reply to  Lpman
6 years ago

Why do those bad swimmers always splash this poor little fragile Aussie? He’ll be hurt badly by splashes. They should keep at least five meters away from him.

Caeleb Dressel Will Win 9 Gold Medals in Tokyo
6 years ago

I heard Joeseph Schooling stubbed his toe yesterday after warmup.

About Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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