Pollution in the River Seine has led to the the cancellation of Monday’s swimming training for Olympic triathletes in Paris – after the same thing happened on Sunday.
A statement from Paris 2024 and World Triathlon reports that water quality remains below an acceptable standard.
The men’s triathlon is due to start on Tuesday and, should the water quality not reach the required standard on race day, the triathlon events have two contingency days (1 and 2 August) built into the program.
If the water quality is not suitable on those days either, the swimming leg of the triathlon will be dropped and it will become a duathlon – with athletes competing over just the bike and running legs.
Alternately, the open water 10km swimming events on 8 and 9 August could be relocated to Vaires-sur-Marne on the Marne River, east of Paris, if necessary.
Tests earlier in July showed the River Seine was clean enough for swimming but heavy rain in the French capital on Friday and Saturday has seen the quality diminish, after Mayor Anne Hidalgo swam in the Seine to prove that it was safe.
Heavy rainfall leads to untreated sewage getting washed into the river, and this is the typical reason for significant pollution levels in urban rivers.
