After Water Quality Concerns Canceled Test Runs, Olympic Triathletes Plunge Into The Seine For Relay

PARIS — Olympic triathletes dove into the Seine River for the mixed relay event on Monday, after organisers said bacteria levels in the heavily polluted Paris canal were acceptable.

The concept of holding the swimming element of the triathlons and marathon swimming competitions in the Seine River was ambitious. Due to its high toxicity, swimming in the river has been prohibited, with certain restrictions, since 1923.

Representatives from the World Triathlon and the International Olympic Committee, as well as Paris Games organizers and regional and weather authorities, met on Sunday night to evaluate water samples. According to a statement, the results showed that the water quality at the triathlon site had improved in the preceding hours and would be within World Triathlon’s limits by Monday morning.

In a nail-biting sprint finish, Germany earned the gold medal in the team relay on Monday, with the United States earning silver and Britain claiming bronze.

The decision to allow swims in the Seine came after Belgium’s Olympic committee stated on Sunday that it would withdraw its team from the mixed relay triathlon after one of its competitors became ill while swimming in the river last week. Another three triathletes, out of over 100 who competed in the men’s and women’s events last Wednesday, were ill in the days that followed, but it’s unclear whether the water was to blame.

At recent press appearances, Paris Deputy Mayor Pierre Rabadan was visibly tired of inquiries about water quality and second-guessing the choice to have swimming events in the Seine.

“It is not a matter of determining whether or not to swim. There are rules. There are European regulations. We collect samples every day to determine whether the water quality is suitable for swimming. “It’s fairly accurate,” he told reporters on Monday.

Paris spent 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion) on infrastructure works to clean up the river that runs through its center. This entailed building a massive basin to collect excess rainwater and prevent effluent from entering the river, rebuilding sewage infrastructure and updating wastewater treatment plants.

Heavy rains that have poured intermittently throughout the Games have caused issues for organizers since they result in elevated quantities of fecal germs, including E. coli and enterococci, spilling into the river. Drenching rains fell Thursday night, but the weather remained dry until Saturday evening when it rained lightly. The sun shone brightly as the marathon began Monday, and participants claimed organizers assured them there were no concerns about water quality.

Seine | AP News Image

After Water Quality Concerns Canceled Test Runs, Olympic Triathletes Plunge Into The Seine For Relay

Organizers have expressed confidence that mild temperatures and the sun’s ultraviolet rays will kill enough germs before each event, which includes a swim in the Seine.

Athletes swam in the river for the men’s and women’s triathlons last Wednesday. However, the men’s competition was postponed by a day due to water quality. The swimming portion of the relay event’s training sessions was canceled due to elevated bacteria levels in the canal.

American triathlete Taylor Spivey described the uncertainty as tough.

“Everyone watching can see what an incredible venue this was for the triathlon,” she added, adding that organizers chose the course location for the backdrop of Paris monuments such as the Eiffel Tower and the Champs-Elysees. “But the constant question of the water quality … and the current was very stressful for the athletes, I would say, because the contingency plan was only to push the race back, not necessarily like a plan B location.”

Morgan Pearson, her teammate, felt the last-minute plan changes were unfair to the athletes and fans. He was also tired of discussing the Seine’s water quality: “I qualified a year ago, and I think, no pun intended, we’re all just a little bit sick of the question.”

Arnold Djenyfer, a Brazilian triathlete, said the water was great on Monday.

“There was really no difference about the quality of the water today compared to the first race,” he told me. “We already knew what we were going to face and it was all fine.”

Belgium’s team withdrew from the triathlon mixed relay after racer Claire Michel became ill and sought care at a clinic in the athletes’ village on Sunday.

Paris city officials warned citizens not to jump to conclusions.

“Many more athletes are sick in the village and haven’t swum in the Seine. The deputy mayor, Rabadan, observed, “We hear less of them.”

Vetle Bergsvik Thorn of Norway, who competed on Monday, also got sick recently. He stated he had a horrible stomach ache for approximately 12 hours, but “it’s hard to say if it’s the river or just some ordinary food poisoning.”

According to him, “It’s been quite a few stressful days not knowing if we can swim or not.”

Swedish triathlete Tilda Månsson became ill on Saturday, three days after racing in the women’s triathlon, according to Swedish Olympic Committee spokesman Lars Markusson. Though her illness was unknown, Markusson told Swedish network SVT that “since others have also become ill, perhaps you don’t need to be a doctor to draw the conclusion that it had to do with swimming in the Seine.”

Swiss officials confirmed Saturday that triathlete Adrien Briffod, who competed in the Seine on Wednesday, will not compete on Monday due to a stomach infection. On Sunday, they reported that Simon Westermann, who had been scheduled to replace Briffod, had also been forced to withdraw due to a stomach infection. Westermann has yet to gain experience swimming in the Seine.

Switzerland’s Julie Derron, who won silver in the women’s triathlon, stated that the squad had seen “a bit of turbulence” recently. However, she stated that the overall experience has been positive.

After Water Quality Concerns Canceled Test Runs, Olympic Triathletes Plunge Into The Seine For Relay

“I think it was challenging conditions obviously, to hold the race, but I think the pictures, the memories that we take away, they’re incredible,” she told me.

Daily water quality testing detects faecal bacteria, including E. coli. The water safety requirements for the World Triathlon and a 2006 European Union directive provide qualitative values for various E. coli levels.

According to World Triathlon rules, E. coli levels of up to 1,000 colony-forming units per 100 millilitres are considered “good” and contests can continue.

The triathlon mixed relay consists of four-person teams, two men and two women, with each participant swimming 300 meters (yards), cycling 6.8 kilometres (4.2 miles), and running 2 kilometres (1.2 miles).

SOURCE | AP