- Triathlon practice swimming sessions were cancelled on both Sunday and Monday
- This has raised concerns about the possibility of the event proceeding on Tuesday morning
- Levels of E. coli bacteria in the River Seine are monitored daily
Triathletes, including GB’s gold medal contender Alex Yee, are facing uncertainty on Monday night about the status of their competition scheduled for the following morning.
Due to ongoing water quality concerns in the Seine, the men’s practice swimming session planned for Sunday was cancelled, and shortly thereafter, the women’s session was also called off.
Officials are expected to decide if the river—part of a £1bn cleanup effort—is safe for swimming around 3:30am local time, just over four hours prior to the intended 8am start.
If bacteria levels are still deemed unsafe, organizers have two choices: eliminate the swimming leg, turning the event into a duathlon, or postpone the event with August 2 suggested as a possible new date. The women’s triathlon is set for Wednesday.
Swimming in the Seine has been banned since 1923. In 1990, then Paris mayor Jacques Chirac made a noteworthy pledge to make it clean enough for swimming, but he did not succeed.
A second swimming training session for the Olympic triathlon in Paris has been cancelled
Concerns surround the event due to pollution levels in the water
Earlier this month, following substantial funding, current mayor Anne Hidalgo took a plunge into the Seine alongside around 100 officials, covering about 100 meters.
However, recent heavy rainfall that disrupted the opening ceremony has negatively impacted water quality, raising concerns about pollution, notably from E. coli.
Such weather conditions pose significant risks as they can lead to issues with wastewater management and water flow.
Over the weekend, Tony Estanguet, chief of Paris 2024, expressed optimism during a press conference that swimming in the Seine would still proceed.
Recent heavy rainfall has influenced the water quality
Lewisham’s Yee, 26, who won silver in Tokyo and gold in the mixed relay, is viewed as a strong contender in France.
Following Monday’s test results, a spokesperson for Paris 2024 stated: ‘Considering the upcoming weather in the next 36 hours, Paris 2024 and World Triathlon are optimistic that water quality will return to safe levels prior to the triathlon events on July 30.
‘As seen in July, with warmer weather (more sunshine, increased temperatures, and a notable decrease in rainfall), water quality in the Seine has significantly improved.’
