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Organisers of the Paris Olympics 2024 have once again cancelled training for triathletes in the River Seine due to poor water quality. The decision casts further doubt on whether the mixed relay event will proceed as scheduled on Monday.
Triathlon Training Cancelled Again Due to Dirty River Seine
Last week, all training was halted in the river, forcing a 24-hour delay of the men's individual race due to pollution issues. The race eventually took place after the women's event on Wednesday. Heavy rainfall on Thursday night is suspected to have exacerbated the water quality, as downpours often lead to sewer discharges into the river. Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps confirmed that athletes were informed of the training cancellation on Saturday evening.
"It follows the rain that occurred in the last days," she said. "We are expecting improvements regarding the weather forecast... we are hopeful that we can organise the competition tomorrow and we will take the decision as planned tomorrow morning," Anne Descamps told reporters, as quoted by NDTV Sports.
Water Quality Concerns Persist at Paris Olympics
The spokesperson refrained from disclosing the most recent water quality measurements. The mixed relay triathlon is a team event comprising two men and two women. Athletes compete in a sprint format, including a 300-meter swim, a 7-kilometer bike ride, and a 1.8-kilometer run. Introduced at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, the event saw Great Britain claim the gold medal.
Seine to Host Marathon Swimming
The Seine River will also host the marathon swimming events, with women competing on August 8 and men on August 9. The race covers a distance of 10 kilometers. Numerous triathletes expressed surprise at the river's strong currents last week. Additionally, some athletes voiced concerns about the water quality and disruptions to training and the men's competition.
"While swimming under the bridge, I felt things and saw things that you shouldn't think about too much," Belgian competitor Jolien Vermeylen told the Parisien newspaper afterwards, without saying more.
Paris Olympics Organisers Defend Water Quality
Paris Olympic organisers asserted that the water quality met the standards set by World Triathlon. E. coli bacteria levels, a primary indicator of fecal contamination, were measured at 192-308 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters (cfu/ml) on race day. This figure falls significantly below the permitted upper limit of 1,000 cfu/ml.
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