Lithuanian Swimmer Cleared of False Positive COVID Test in Japan

A Lithuanian swimmer had a COVID-19 scare upon arrival in Tokyo last week ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games, initially testing positive for the virus that has spun the world into a pandemic over the last 18 months. Multiple follow-up tests, however, came back negative, leading to the conclusion of a false positive on the first test.

The positive test was reported by the city of Hiratsuka in Kanagawa Prefecture after the Lithuanian team arrived for a pre-meet training camp. The athlete was not named, but was identified as a “male swimmer in his 30s.” The Lithuanian Olympic Team only has one male swimmer in his 30s on the roster, breaststroker Giedrius Titenis.

An initial PCR test on July 9 came back positive, but a second test came up negative. After a third test on Saturday, he was determined to be negative.

This is due to be the 31-year old Titenis’ 4th Olympic Games. In 2012, he finished 8th in the 100 breaststroke, he became the second Lithuanian swimmer ever to reach an Olympic final after Vytautas Janušaitis did so in 2004.

The Lithuanian team will include 6 athletes: 5 men and 1 woman. The country has qualified to swim the men’s 400 medley relay, and their best medal hope is Danas Rapsys, who is the #1 seed in the 200 free and #4 seed in the 400 free,

More positive tests among athletes

While no swimmers have been announced as confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 yet, more Olympic athletes from other sports have tested positive as of Wednesday night in Japan.

British skeet shooter Amber Hill, the #1 ranked woman in the world, tested positive and is out of the Olympics. The 23-year old has no symptoms. Dutch skateboarder Candy Jacobs announced her positive test on social media, saying she is also being forced out of the Olympics by a positive test on Wednesday morning.

Skateboarding is making its Olympic debut in Tokyo this summer. Jacobs was the European Championships silver medalist in the women’s street event in 2018.

She becomes the first athlete to break the news of her own positive test at the Games.

The Czech team has been hit by its 4th positive test after table tennis player Pavel Širuček tested positive and will not be able to compete. Beach volleyball player Ondřej Perušič tested positive earlier this week along with two staff members. Multiple other members of the team who have come into contact with those individuals are awaiting results of re-tests.

Neither Czech athlete was expected to contend for medals.

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3 years ago

So the two negative tests were on the 9th and the 10th but this is just being reported now?

Gogo bibi
3 years ago

Skateboard as an olympic sport is a joke

RAP
3 years ago

he became the second Lithuanian swimmer ever to reach an Olympic final after Vytautas Janušaitis did so in 2004.”

Ruta Meilutyte: hmmm

USA
Reply to  RAP
3 years ago

Well the men’s 100 breast finals in London were before the women, so technically he is the 2nd, and Meilutyte was the 3rd

RAP
Reply to  USA
3 years ago

hmmmm good point.

Coach Mike 1952
Reply to  RAP
3 years ago

Both made finals in 2012, so the question who was second was who qualified for their respective final first. Don’t know. A schedule question really.

Bobo Gigi
3 years ago

Skateboarding at olympics, please….

Coach Macgyver
Reply to  Bobo Gigi
3 years ago

You just hit a new low

John
Reply to  Bobo Gigi
3 years ago

Stop shaming other sports at the Olympic level please

Blackflag82
Reply to  Bobo Gigi
3 years ago

Better than tug of war (a previous olympic event)

Bobo Gigi
3 years ago

What a daily drama we’re gonna have.
Stop the testing. At least we’ll have no positive tests. 😛

Casas 100 back gold in Fukuoka
Reply to  Bobo Gigi
3 years ago

Stop the counting!

runnergal42
3 years ago

The US gymnastics team moved out of the village to a hotel. I wonder if USA swimming will follow their lead.

MrClean
3 years ago

We’re they all in the village?

whever
3 years ago

In another news, Borodin of Russia tests positive for Covid and will miss OG.

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Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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