You are working on Staging1

Olympic Medalist Zac Stubblety-Cook Of Australia Reveals COVID & Injury

2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

The men’s 200m breaststroke took place on day 5 of the 2024 Olympic Games with host country powerhouse Leon Marchand firing off a new Olympic record of 2:05.85 en route to gold.

Behind him for silver was former world record holder Zac Stubblety-Cook of Australia who stopped the clock at 2:06.79 while Dutchman Caspar Corbeau earned bronze in 2:07.90.

For 25-year-old Aussie Stubblety-Cook, ZSC, told the media post-race, “I was stoked with that result.

“To be back at 2:06 is awesome and Leon is like the ultimate competitor, so for me, I was absolutely stoked. I left nothing out there. To see Leon go a 2:05.8, I can’t complain because it’s better than my best.” (The Guardian)

The typically reserved ZSC revealed even more on his Instagram, pointing to a 2023 injury and illness in Paris.

“SILVER!!!!! I could not be prouder 💚💛 The last 6-12 months have been nothing but a wild ride full of highs and lows!

“To come back from breaking my neck end of last year to multiple cortisone’s, starting a coffee business and now dealing with COVID.

“The emotions of all these trials and tribulations, combined with the looming pressure of defending my Olympic title, has been nothing short of a continuous roller coaster, full of doubt, and hardship.

What makes it all possible is the best team behind me and there are no words that can express how grateful I am to those that surround me.

Experiencing a race with @leon.marchand31 in front of a home crowd at the Olympics, memory I’ll cherish forever.”

ZSC is far from the first swimmer to have contracted COVID while competing at the Olympic Games.

Sasha Gatt of Malta, Blake Pieroni and David Johnston of the United States and Lani Pallister of Australia have all tested positive during the competition.

As far as the neck injury, it’s not clear when or how it happened but we’ve reached out to ZSC for more details.

 

 

In This Story

25
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

25 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Robbos
1 month ago

ZSC said after his race, he was prepared well & raced to his best ability & happy with how he swam & was beaten by a better swimmer. This was said on Australian TV after the medal presentation.

But lets not let facts get in the way of a good story.

Mini bus
1 month ago

All athletes have injuries and go through highs and lows, it’s called life. If you stand on the starting block, you’re fully fit ! Please stop with the post race sob stories ! It’s disrespectful to your fellow competitors, and detracts from the real story being the commitment and pursuit of excellence.

mcswammerstein
1 month ago

Boo I hate when athletes lose then talk about all their issues like its an excuse, booooo

Adam H.
1 month ago

How does he just casually mention breaking his neck what

Aragon Son of Arathorne
1 month ago

I like him. He’s a cool cat. The Aussies are beginning to grow on me.

Ricky Bobby.
1 month ago

Those breaststrokers. Cut from a different cloth.

David S
1 month ago

Covid-24
The neverending pandemic

Dirtswimmer
1 month ago

Don’t want to take away anything from Leons incredible double because, but an out of shape Milak and sick ZSC definitely helped him in the endeavor

Facts
Reply to  Dirtswimmer
1 month ago

It’s almost like injuries and illness are part of sports. We gonna asterisk all the distance events with Hafnoui and Short injuries and illness as well?

Last edited 1 month ago by Facts
Chris
Reply to  Dirtswimmer
1 month ago

Milak isn’t definitely in his best form to break his WR but getting below 1:52 is a big achievement considering what had happened last year or so

Scotty
Reply to  Dirtswimmer
1 month ago

Just to be clear ZSC was not racing with Covid, he had suffered from covid in the week or so before the race and had been taking 5 days worth of medication. This isn’t to say it would not have impacted his performance but its not as bad as the Peaty situation who was racing just as he was coming down with the virus and with heavy symptoms.

Sally
Reply to  Scotty
1 month ago

He said “now dealing with covid”, and if he had it a week or so ago, he would be past taking medication. I hope Marchand finishes before this catches up with him.

Katie
Reply to  Dirtswimmer
1 month ago

Part of being a great athlete is controlling as many controllables as possible including diet, sleep, recovery, and doing everything you can to avoid illness. Marchand knew what was at stake for him and did everything he could to avoid illness including masking and restricting socialization because any illness would jeopardize his double. ZSC had the same choice and the same access to science and chose “act like it’s 2019” as his illness prevention strategy.

bigNowhere
Reply to  Katie
1 month ago

I’m not sure that is entirely fair to ZSC. From what I read the Australian team was masking in common areas, etc.

Fortunately, ZSC was able to take antivirals (probably Paxlovid) for 5 days prior to the race, so he was probably close to fine at that point.

Alison England
Reply to  Katie
1 month ago

That’s not very fair. You can mask up and take all precautions, but you cannot guarantee you won’t get it.

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Dirtswimmer
1 month ago

He swam two Olympic records, and was faster than ZSC’s best time.

Even an “in shape” Milak might never go that fast again

Virtus
Reply to  Dirtswimmer
1 month ago

He literally became the second fastest performer of all time in both events and beat world record holders who were right on their best 💀. those were not even close to some kind of Mickey Mouse wins

Joel
Reply to  Virtus
1 month ago

ZSC would have been faster if he hadn’t been sick but not sure how fast

YellowSubMarine
Reply to  Dirtswimmer
1 month ago

Marchand still went lower than the best ZSC, as he himself pointed out.

STRAIGHTBLACKLINE
Reply to  Dirtswimmer
1 month ago

A 1.51.21 200BF is faster than Michael Phelps ever went and less than a second off Milak’s world record which he will probably never approach again. His 2.05.85 in the 200BS is faster than ZSC’s best. And these times were done in the same session and in a pool which is generally considered to be slow. Remember the 100BS was won in a 59.

Joel
Reply to  STRAIGHTBLACKLINE
1 month ago

Peaty would have been 57 high if he wasn’t sick I reckon

About Braden Keith

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, …

Read More »