Athletes Dive into the Seine for Paris Olympic Triathlon Amid Bacteria Concerns

Athletes plunged into the Seine River on Wednesday for the Olympic women’s triathlon after tests indicated lower bacteria levels, ending days of uncertainty regarding the central Paris swim. The triathlon had faced delays due to heavy rains, which impacted water quality and postponed the men’s event originally scheduled for Tuesday.

The women’s race began at 8 am local time (0600 GMT) just as overnight rain began to ease. This development brought relief to athletes and organizers alike, as Paris authorities aim to leave a legacy of a swimmable Seine post-Games.

Benjamin Maze, technical director for France’s triathlon federation, expressed his excitement: “It is with great joy that we received this news. Now that we know we will race, we can mentally switch fully into competition mode.” Despite some showers starting around 5:45 am, the races continued, presenting challenging conditions for the bike stage that includes sharp turns and cobbled roads. The triathlon, a central showpiece of the Paris Olympics, takes athletes along iconic landmarks, including the Alexandre III bridge and the Champs-Elysees.

Fifty-five women from 34 countries participated, with France’s Cassandre Beaugrand and Britain’s Beth Potter among the top contenders. They dove into the river side by side from a floating pontoon next to the bridge. The men’s race was rescheduled to 10:45 am, following the women’s event. Paris 2024 and World Triathlon confirmed the decision based on the latest water analysis results received early Wednesday morning, which were deemed compliant.

Paris has invested 1.4 billion euros in wastewater infrastructure to contain sewage and reduce river pollution. Earlier this month, Mayor Anne Hidalgo even took a dip in the Seine to assure the public of its safety.

However, the last-minute postponement of the men’s race on Tuesday sparked anger among some athletes. Belgium’s Marten Van Riel voiced his frustration on social media, criticizing the organizers for not relocating the event despite health concerns.