Search
shop

St George in the balance: Skipper plans on hold after positive Covid test

Brit rates chances of competing in May's IRONMAN World Championship at 50-50
News Director
Last updated -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

Britain’s Joe Skipper has tested positive for Covid 19 and his plans for the IRONMAN World Championship at St George on May 7 are up in the air as a result.

He revealed the news on his ‘Triathlon Mockery’ podcast, shortly after returning from the IRONMAN South Africa event in Port Elizabeth.

Skipper was one of the favourites for that race but finished fourth behind an all-South African podium, saying he was disappointed with his performance, stating that his “run legs didn’t show up”.

After testing positive, Skipper said on the podcast he and fellow pro Tom Oosterdijk produce that he thinks he may have had the virus before the race: “I’m wondering if we caught the virus before the race. I trained so well before it, particularly on the running, and [yet] I felt so flat at the start.”

Advertisement

’50-50′ for St George

Skipper expanded on his lack of performance and energy, saying: “In that race, I wasn’t even on the desired pace. It felt hard. I just wanted to walk instead of run. I’ve never felt like that before in a race.”

Joe Skipper Collins Cup 2021
Joe Skipper – run was a struggle in South Africa.

The big early-season target for him has been the World Championships in Utah, but preparations are already significantly affected.

The Brit was due to fly out to America to train for two-and-a-half weeks at altitude ahead of that event but has been forced to cancel immediate plans.

He admitted: “If I’m honest it’s probably a 50-50 chance as to whether I compete at St George.”

Moreover, he is concerned about long Covid symptoms and hesitant about resuming training too soon. “I’ve heard about athletes that returned too quickly and struggled with the lingering effects of Covid. It’s been about five to six months until they feel good – and they’re so many big races this year.”

He continued: “Also, if I come back early, train poorly, or don’t feel fully fit, I will not get a good result at St George anyway. It’s not like you can really hurry it.

“So if I feel like I can get into training alright and do a couple of good sessions then I’ll race. But if it takes a while to get back and I don’t feel like I can get a result then I’m just going to have a ‘Plan B’ and look to build up gradually for another race.”

Jonathan Turner
Written by
Jonathan Turner
Jonathan Turner is News Director for both TRI247 and RUN247, and is accustomed to big-name interviews, breaking news stories and providing unrivalled coverage for endurance sports.  
Discover more
Challenge The Championship Marjolaine Pieree
How to qualify for Challenge The Championship – and why it should be on your triathlon bucket list
Cadomotus aero triathlon cycling shoes
Can your triathlon cycling shoes make you faster? How shoe choice could speed up your triathlon finish times
French Riviera T100 bike course Esterel
Is this the ultimate middle distance triathlon bike course? We rode the French Riviera T100 bike course and it’s EPIC
Ironman gear guide – everything you need to get to the finish line of a full distance triathlon
Challenge St. Pölten 2024 - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
Expert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
latest News
IRONMAN World Championship 2024 Nice Age Group Swim Start
IRONMAN to review World Championship slot allocation model after fears raised for Age Group women
Jonny Brownlee / Jonathan Brownlee - Super League Triathlon London 2023
Did the Brownlee brothers nearly join pro cycling’s Team Sky after 2012 Olympic heroics?
Kristian Hogenhaug interviewed after The Championship 2025
Danish triathlon star highlights blistering bike split as key to The Championship success.
Alistair Brownlee - T100 San Francisco 2024 bike
Olympic triathlon legend Alistair Brownlee completes iconic Gralloch race in latest gravel test
Jeanne Lehair Beth Potter WTCS Yokohama 2025
From Olympic heartbreak to joy of first WTCS win as emotions flow for Jeanne Lehair
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...