Swimmer Possibly Spreads Disease at Olympics

Judging by accounts of the wild amounts of Olympian coitus that occurs, you'd assume diseases would be spread by physical relations. But watch out for those shifty Canadians, dreaming up new ways to spread communicable disease.

Case in point: Canuck swimmer Victoria Poon, who has been quarantined with a case of the ... chicken pox. Dun dun DUNH!

Poon, from LaSalle, Que., was taken to a local hospital in Beijing and didn't compete Sunday in the women's 4x100 metre freestyle relay team that finished eighth. Poon, 23, who won the Canadian Trials in Montreal, was also expected to compete in the women's 50 freestyle on Friday, but her current condition may prevent her from participating.

According to WebMD, the pox can be contagious up to three days before symptoms appear. The illness is very easily spreadable, and dangerous to adults who have never had the pox before or who have not be vaccinated against it.

No word on whether Poon spread the pox by high-fives or contaminated a practice pool or whatnot. I'll guess we'll know within the week. Hopefully, Michael Phelps doesn't have to stop to itch halfway through the men's 200m freestyle on Monday. Although, based on how fast he's been thus far, he'd probably have plenty of time to stop, scratch himself, have a cup of tea and a power nap before finishing in world record time.

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.