U.S. Olympian Claire Weinstein has been diagnosed with viral meningitis, she said in an Instagram story on Tuesday.
Weinstein, who won a silver medal at the Paris Olympics as part of the American 800 free relay team, is entered in the 50 and 100 meter freestyles at this week’s U.S. National Championship meet. She says that these swims will be a test to “see how her body reacts with a couple races this week,” but has only been fully training for about two weeks.
“Hi guys! Just wanted to give you a little life update. As many of you know, I had to pull out of the [Sacramento] Pro Series due to what we originally thought was a severe migraine. After a 2nd visit to the ER back home, I was hospitalized and later diagnosed with viral meningitis.
The recovery has been one of the most frustrating and humbling things I have ever been through. I’m thankful for the people that have been there to support me through it all.”
Weinstein, 19, recently completed her freshman season at Cal. There she won the NCAA title in the 500 yard free. She has only raced a single long course meet since, a timed finals event on April 11 and 12.
According to the Mayo Clinic, meningitis is “an infection and swelling of the fluid and membranes around the brain and spinal cord.” Sometimes, meningitis can improve without treatment, but in other cases it leads to death and other long-term health complications.
A 2023 study found that all forms of meningitis (including the far more dangerous bacterial form) infect more than 2.5 million people globally each year and kill more than 250,000.
Weinstein has five World Championship medals, including a pair of 800 free relay golds – one each in long course and short course. Individually, she won bronze medals at both the 2024 World Short Course Championships and World Long Course Championships in the 200 free.
Weinstein is scheduled to race as part of the U.S. roster at the 2026 Pan Pac Championships in the 200 free, 400 free, 800 free, and 1500 free. She says that she’s still undecided as to what to do for that meet, and is using Nationals as a test.
