Two USA Swimming stars 'test positive for COVID-19 at 2024 Olympics' after Great Britain's Adam Peaty caught the virus in Paris

Two long-distance specialists for USA Swimming have tested positive for COVID-19 at the ongoing 2024 Olympics in Paris, according to an online report.

SwimSwam.com is reporting that distance specialists David Johnston and Luke Whitlock have both tested positive. Johnston still has some time to recover before the 1500m men's freestyle on Saturday.  Johnston has already competed, finishing 15th in the 800m freestyle. 

Johnston and Whitlock's reported positive tests come after British swimmer Adam Peaty tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday hours after tying for second in the men's 100m breaststroke final.

USA Swimming spokespeople declined to confirm the report with DailyMail.com, saying the organization does 'not release athlete health data publicly.'

Johnston has not yet been scratched from his upcoming event on Saturday, USA Swimming officials told DailyMail.com.  

COVID-19 has increasingly become a problem at the ongoing Paris Games. 

Three years after the Tokyo Olympics were held amid strict precautions and with no fans because of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the virus has forced athletes to withdraw from events and has others donning masks once again.

Several athletes have tested positive, including Australian swimmer Lani Pallister who was a medal hope in the women's 1,500 meters freestyle but had to withdraw from the event. Pallister has been instructed to isolate in her room.

Peaty tested positive a day after he narrowly missed out on 100 meters breaststroke gold, sharing silver with American Nic Fink. Peaty, who said he woke up feeling unwell on the morning of Sunday's race, is hoping to compete in relays later this week.

'The team spirit is really high,' Peaty's British teammate Matt Richards said after his 100m freestyle heat on Tuesday morning. 'I think we've done a good job on just trying to make sure we take all the precautions we can.

'Adam's okay, he's not dying. He's alright, just a bit of a cold. We'll avoid it as best we can. We're here to race. If we get a little bit ill whilst we're racing we'll keep racing. It's how we do it.'

Multiple Australian women's water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 in the days leading up to the opening ceremony, forcing them to isolate from other team members.

The Tokyo Olympics were delayed a year due to COVID-19 while the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics were held under strict precautions, making Paris the first post-pandemic Olympics. There are no strict protocols or restrictions around COVID-19 in Paris.

'We have a protocol (that) any athlete that has tested positive has to wear a mask and we remind everyone to follow best practices but in terms of monitoring COVID, cases are quite low in France,' said Anne Descamps, Paris 2024 chief communications director.

British swimmer Jacob Whittle said his team were getting more strict with the precautions.

'We're hand sanitising and wearing masks everywhere we can,' Whittle said. 'When we're swimming and doing stuff like this (speaking to reporters) are the only times we're not wearing a mask.

'It's just being extra cautious when eating and going on buses and communal spaces, just being really conscious as to not catch it and also if you've got it not to give it to anyone else. Just being careful really.'