Winter Olympics 2018: Two skiers quarantined as norovirus outbreak spreads to first athletes in Pyeongchang

Both were members of the Swiss freestyle skiing squad but were not staying in the Olympic village

Over 200 people have been affected by the virus already (Getty)

Two skiers were quarantined from fellow competitors at the 2018 Winter Olympics after contracting norovirus in Pyeongchang.

The Swiss team confirmed that two of their freestyle skiers were the first cases among the athletes at the Games after an outbreak of the virus, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea, hit more than 200 people already – all of whom were security staff and Games personnel.

They were immediately taken to single rooms and treated by team doctors and had no contact with other competitors as they were not staying at the Olympic village.

One of those affected was Fabian Boesch but a spokesman for the team said they did not want to name the other athletes as their relatives had not yet been informed.

Boesch had become an internet sensation at the Games after posting a video of himself hanging onto the outside rail of an escalator as it climbed upward.

“Everyone else is safe. We did everything we could. We took them away from the rest of the team and now they have to recover,” the spokesperson said.

Both athletes are expected to be well enough to compete later on in the Games.