Men's Triathlon Postponed Until Wednesday Due To Water Quality
The men's triathlon at the Paris Olympics has been postponed due to high pollution levels in the River Seine. Initially scheduled for Tuesday, the race will now take place on Wednesday at 10:45 a.m. local time, following the women's event at 8 a.m.
Organisers had hoped water quality would improve after heavy rains last week, but tests revealed bacteria levels remained above acceptable limits.
"Despite the improvement of water quality levels over the last hours, the readings at some points of the swim course are still above the acceptable limits," World Triathlon said.
If water quality does not improve by Wednesday, both events may be postponed to Friday. If the issue persists, the swim portion will be replaced with a duathlon.
Athletes and Spectators Disappointed
The postponement has been a disappointment for many, including athletes and spectators. "The athletes are really looking forward to having that stage and that platform to perform on," said Australia's Olympic team chief Anna Meares. "They actually want to swim in the river."
French triathlon federation technical director Benjamin Maze acknowledged the frustration but emphasised the mental preparation provided for the athletes.
Paris has invested heavily to make the Seine swimmable, spending €1.4 billion on wastewater infrastructure. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo even swam in the river earlier this month to demonstrate its safety. However, heavy rains often cause sewer systems to overflow into the river, increasing bacteria levels.
Great Britain's Alex Yee, a favourite for gold, and reigning women's world champion Beth Potter, will have to adapt to the changes. Vicky Holland, an Olympic bronze medalist, mentioned that the delay impacts athletes more mentally than physically.
"This won't be a complete shock to them given the water quality in recent days," she said.
Speculation Over Whether Open-Water Events In Seine Will Go Ahead
The Seine is also set to host the triathlon mixed relay on August 5, the Olympic marathon swimming on August 8 and 9, and the Para-triathlon at the Paralympics starting August 28. Paris 2024 operations director Lambis Konstantinidis noted that while heat can help reduce bacteria levels, heavy rainfall poses a significant challenge.
Despite the setbacks, the organisers and athletes remain hopeful. Seth Rider, one of the U.S. triathletes, shared his unconventional approach to building resistance to E. coli by exposing himself to small amounts in daily life.
The Olympic triathlon course, designed for its visual appeal, remains a highlight of the Games, with athletes swimming in the Seine and racing past iconic landmarks.
The efforts to improve the Seine's water quality are part of a broader legacy plan for Paris, aiming to create lasting benefits for the city's residents and visitors. As Kristine Hagelsteen noted, "For the Parisians it will be fabulous if you can go swimming in the river."
However, the challenge of maintaining consistent water quality continues to test the limits of these ambitious plans.
