IF the spread of the coronavirus could be slowed down simply by not talking about it then British Swimming would be unexpected pioneers.
Alas, with medical advice offering nothing to suggest that could be the case, the decision by the governing body to prevent their swimmers speaking yesterday about a situation that will likely have a serious effect on their livelihoods – especially in an Olympic year – seemed a curious one indeed.
While the rest of the sporting world has gone into lockdown in response to the growing threat of Covid-19, day two of the Edinburgh International Swim Meet at the Royal Commonwealth Pool proceeded as planned.
Many of the sport’s leading British names were in attendance – including Olympic champion Adam Peaty – obviously not deterred by any concern about competing in front of a decent-sized crowd of probably close to the limit of 500 set to be imposed on public gatherings in the week ahead.
Add in all the coaches and other support staff who gathered at poolside to watch the meet unfold and it would definitely have broached that upper limit.
And yet there seemed little sense of anxiety among either spectators or swimmers in an atmosphere that – during the skins races especially – became as boisterous as you would expect at any meet of this calibre.
The decision, however, not to allow media access to poolside for the traditional post-race interviews was not taken as a health precaution. That would almost have been understandable.
Instead, it was said to have been taken in response to swimmers being asked about the threat of the coronavirus and the possible ramifications from a sporting sense.
It seemed a curious stance from British Swimming. First of all, it is a topic that has become impossible to tiptoe around. It has reached and is now impacting on every aspect of life, regardless of an individual’s background.
Secondly, it has huge implications for swimming. The British championships are set to take place next month and will double this year as the Olympic trials. As things stand, both the trials and the Games themselves are still on course to take place but that could change at any day.
It would have been instructive to hear what the likes of Olympic hopeful Duncan Scott, for example, felt about that scenario but that wasn’t to be the case on this occasion. Too many questions already about coronavirus, was the message passed down the line.
Still, there was plenty of sporting action to enjoy even if most of the protagonists were not allowed to talk about their achievements beyond a few furtive words grabbed here and there.
In the men’s freestyle 50m skins dash – when the field is reduced one race at a time from eight down to two – Scott held off the threat of his good friend and world champion James Guy to take the honours.
The Scot, in fact, won all five of his races. He had equalled the Scottish record in the morning heats and then set a new standard of 22.21 in the first race of the evening session.
There was similar joy for Cassie Wild in the women’s 50m backstroke as the Edinburgh swimmer pipped Jessica Fullalove in the final duel to take the money.
Peaty had announced on social media ahead of the meet that, due to the ongoing health crisis, he wouldn’t be stopping for selfies or giving autographs.
If he was showing any nerves about the situation, though, there was little sign of it as he stormed to victory in the 100m breaststroke, although he admitted he wasn’t quite at his best.
“It was good,” he said, in an illicit, hastily-grabbed interview. “Unexpectedly good. [A time of] 58.13 so still the fastest human at an Edinburgh meeting. But it’s been part of a process.
“This morning was a bit ropey. It wasn’t really me. I thought about things this afternoon and went back to the drawing board.”
His Loughborough team-mate James Wilby claimed second with Stirling’s Ross Murdoch just behind in 1.00.68.
“It was all right,” said Murdoch. “It not quite as fast as I went in Northern Ireland recently but I’ll take it. It’s good having that level of competition.”
And that was the final word.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here