A troubling wave of illnesses has struck athletes competing in the triathlon events at the Paris Olympics, with several participants experiencing gastrointestinal issues after swimming in the Seine River. This has raised concerns about water quality and the safety of Olympic venues.
Belgian media reported that Claire Michel, a 35-year-old triathlete, was hospitalized after competing in the women’s individual triathlon on July 31. Michel, who finished 38th in the race, is suspected to have contracted an E. coli bacterial infection, though this has yet to be confirmed by the Belgian Olympic Committee or relevant health authorities.
Michel’s sudden withdrawal has led Belgium to cancel their participation in the mixed relay event scheduled for August 5, as there was no available replacement for her. Michel is not the only athlete affected by illness following the individual events.
Swiss triathlete Adrien Briffod also withdrew from the mixed relay due to a stomach infection. The Swiss Olympic delegation stated that they “cannot confirm” whether Briffod’s illness was related to the water quality in the Seine.
Briffod’s intended replacement, Simon Westermann, was also forced to withdraw due to gastrointestinal issues. However, Switzerland still managed to field a complete team and is expected to participate in the mixed relay event.
Norwegian triathlete Bergsvik Thorn fell ill a day after competing in the men’s individual race. Thorn told Norway’s NRK television that he woke up with stomach pains and nausea but believed the cause might be food poisoning rather than river water contamination.
The swimming segment of the triathlon events at the 2024 Olympics has taken place in the Seine River despite concerns about water quality. Last week, the organizers had to cancel the swimming portion of two trial events due to poor water quality measurements. The men’s individual event was postponed by a day for similar reasons.
There is uncertainty about whether the mixed relay will proceed as planned on August 5. The event may be rescheduled due to increased bacterial levels following heavy rain on Wednesday and Thursday. A group practice session scheduled for the morning of August 4 was canceled, yet organizers insist that the bacteria levels in the river are within safe limits for the athletes.
The Belgian Olympic Committee has called for lessons to be learned for future Olympic triathlon events. “We hope that training times, competitions, and race formats will be clarified in advance to avoid instability for athletes, organizers, and fans,” they stated.
During an IOC press conference on August 4, Anne Descamps, the communications director for the Paris 2024 Olympics, commented, “We expect the weather to improve. As we can see, the sun is shining, and temperatures are rising, which will positively affect the situation.”
The illnesses affecting athletes at the Paris Olympics have highlighted significant concerns over the suitability of the Seine River as a venue for triathlon events. With the spotlight on water quality and athlete safety, these issues may prompt a re-evaluation of Olympic venues and protocols in the future.
