NATIONAL record holder and the king of King Island Stewart McSweyn was forced to pull out of the 1500m at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham just a day out from the heats after coming down with the flu.
“I picked up the flu travelling back from the World Champs and sadly haven’t been able to shake it in time for tomorrow’s heat,” he said on Instagram. It’s been a tough year for McSweyn, an adverse reaction to a Covid-19 booster in March led to him being diagnosed with pericarditis or inflammation around the heart.
Early reports from his coach said he was experiencing long Covid. A few weeks ago, McSweyn had recovered enough to compete in finals of the World Championship in Oregon US and he set the pace. He was not in the final medal count, however on his and the fast race times, he went into Birmingham among the medal favourites for the 1500 metres.
His mum Jacky Richards said Stewart had been very unwell with the flu. “He is now slowly recovering and is hopeful of working towards being well enough to continue competing in the Diamond League on the European Athletics circuit.”
Had King Island’s athletic star not fallen ill, he would have been competing against one of the strongest fields across any event in the Commonwealth Games, featuring the reigning world champion, and the athletes who finished second, third, and fourth at last year’s Tokyo Olympics.
Australia’s Oliver Hoare stunned the stadium as he powered through the last 100 metres and over the line to win the 1500 metres Commonwealth Games Gold medal.
After winning gold, Hoare paid tribute to McSweyn, “He has taken the 1500 to the next level and he hasn’t had that jump yet to medals into where I think he belongs. “He’s been an inspiring mentor for me, and I think it’s been pushing the country forward,” he said.