Lukas Märtens, the European swimming champ, can't make it to the Wuppertal short course champs this weekend. Why? Because he's battling a string of infections that have forced him into his fourth round of antibiotics this season. "My body needs some time to recover," he shared with Volksstimme newspaper.
Initially, Lukas had to skip the Magdeburg coach's long-distance training camp due to flu-like symptoms. Upon arrival in Sierra Nevada, his training was cut short again due to a diagnosed sinus infection. Upon returning to Germany, he was also diagnosed with coronavirus.
Disappointed at missing this opportunity to improve his short-course performances, Lukas has decided against participating in any further competitions this year, even the Romanian Short Course Championships, initially planned for early December.
Enrichment Insight: Regular antibiotic usage in athletes may lead to antibiotic resistance, a growing concern in the medical community. However, this article does not delve into that topic.
Sources: DPA agency and enrichment data from various sources.
