On Sunday, Belgium’s Olympic committee announced the withdrawal of its team from the mixed relay triathlon due to one competitor falling ill after swimming in the Seine.
Claire Michel, who took part in the women’s triathlon in Paris on Wednesday, “is unfortunately unwell and will need to withdraw from the competition,” stated the Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee.
The mixed relay triathlon is set for Monday, with swimming taking place in the Seine. While the statement did not provide details on Michel’s condition, it follows concerns regarding the river’s water quality. Event organizers had previously indicated that bacteria levels were deemed safe for athletes.
The Belgian committee expressed hope that insights would be gained for future triathlon events at the Olympic Games, emphasizing the need for clear guidelines on training days, competition structure, and ensuring clarity for athletes, their teams, and supporters.
On Saturday, Swiss officials reported that triathlete Adrien Briffod, who swam in the Seine on Wednesday, also became ill with a stomach infection. However, they stated it was “impossible to determine” if there was a connection to the swim, noting that other delegations reported no stomach issues among their triathletes.
Swiss officials updated on Sunday that Simon Westermann, who was set to replace Briffod, had to withdraw due to a gastrointestinal infection, and noted that Westermann had not swum in the Seine.
Despite these developments, the Swiss team still intends to compete in the mixed relay on Monday, according to their statement.
