The men’s triathlon race was delayed over concerns that the Seine River was too contaminated (read: poopy), but the waters were late deemed safe enough for the event to take place alongside the women’s triathlon race on Wednesday. Then, shockingly, people got sick. Below, the latest updates.
Backed-up
July 30, 2024: It seems like almost everything has gone to … poop. Late Monday night, Olympic organizers postponed the men’s triathlon race from Tuesday morning to Wednesday, rescheduling it to the same day as the women’s race, as the Seine River is still too unsafe to swim in. “Both triathlons are subject to the forthcoming water tests complying with the established world triathlon thresholds for swimming,†explained the World Triathlon in a statement. “Unfortunately, meteorological events beyond our control, such as the rain which fell over Paris on 26 and 27 July, can alter water quality and compel us to reschedule the event for health reasons. Despite the improvement on the water quality levels in the last hours, the readings at some points of the swim course are still above the acceptable limits.†Both races could also postponed until Friday if water levels are not acceptable by Wednesday.
If the Seine is still too poopy by then, it could be moved to the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium outside of Paris or just be held as a duathlon. At least there are back-up plans for the backed-up plans.
Just keep swimming
July 31, 2024: Olympics organizers declared that the Seine River has cleaned up its act … at least enough for triathletes to compete, anyway. Per CNN, the men’s and women’s triathlon events took place on Wednesday after Paris 2024 and World Triathlon said that samples showed that the water was safe enough. The men’s race was postponed by a day over contamination concerns. Britain’s Alex Yee, who won gold, told the Associated Press that athletes have to trust organizers when they say that it’s okay to swim. “I’m sure we’ll find out in due time if that’s correct,†he added. Hopefully the marathon swimmers won’t deal with as much uncertainty when it’s their turn to test the waters?
Britain’s Alex Yee, who won gold in the men’s race, told the Associated Press that athletes have to trust organizers when they say that it’s okay to swim. “I’m sure we’ll find out in due time if that’s correct,†he added. Hopefully the marathon swimmers won’t deal with as much uncertainty when it’s their turn to test the waters?
Who could have possibly foreseen this?
August 4, 2024: Belgium has withdrawn from the mixed relay triathlon, set to take place Monday, due to one of their athletes getting sick. Claire Michel swam in the women’s triathlon Wednesday, and by Sunday she was too ill to compete, according to a statement obtained by the NY Post. Reports are coming in that she contracted E. Coli and had to be hospitalized. Swiss athlete Adrien Briffod also dropped out of the mixed relay due to a stomach infection, according to NBC.