Heart scare for Nutri-Grain ironwoman Lily Finati after Georgia Miller drama and Covid

A young surf life saving ironwoman has spent time in hospital with heart issues - the second elite athlete in a month to experience issues.

Lily Finati missed the final two rounds of the series with a health issue.

Rising NSW surf life saving star Lily Finati has been hospitalised for tests for breathlessness and a racing heart after competing in the Nutri-Grain ironwoman series.

Just weeks after one of the pre-series favourites Georgia Miller was sidelined with a similar issue before the series even started, teenager Lily Finati said she has also been diagnosed with pericarditis.

Lily Finati is from the North Bondi club.

The 18-year-old felt unwell after Thursday’s race, then had shortness of breath and dizziness after Friday’s event on the Gold Coast and was later taken to hospital for tests.

“I just got out and I feel a bit better,” said North Bondi surf life saver Finati on Sunday.

“They ran tests and said I have peritonitis, they said it was probably a post Covid thing.”

Finati was unaware she had Covid but believes she may have contracted it in January preparing for the series which started on her home beach a fortnight ago.

“I never got sick. I didn’t have any symptoms,’’ she said.

“Thursday I didn’t feel great and it took me a while to recover. I couldn’t get my heart rate down but I felt okay after I slept.

“Friday after the race I was short of breath and my heart rate was so high.

“I was really tired and had a nap but my heart is still racing.’’

Lily Finati is one of the rising stars of the sport.

Finati said doctors have advised her to see a cardiologist on her return to Sydney this week.

“They want me to do a heart stress test before I return (to training and racing),” she said.

“It is pretty scary. I have never even stay the night at hospital before.

“At least I had a clue because Georgia had it.

“Without exercise I feel pretty good.”

Georgia Miller celebrates winning round five of the Nutri-Grain ironwoman series.

Miller, who had a flu last year and Covid over Christmas, was also diagnosed with inflammation of the heart after feeling dizzy and breathless following a day of racing in Sydney in early January.

She missed the opening round to rest but returned on the Gold Coast to win the fifth round of the series on Saturday.

Finati, one of the rising stars of the sport, is hoping to be back racing later this month.

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