The Paris Olympics faced a setback as the first swimming training session for triathletes was canceled on Sunday due to pollution in the Seine River. Concerns about the Seine’s cleanliness for Olympic events have been ongoing, despite efforts by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and over $1.5 billion spent to combat high E.coli levels.
Concerns over water quality
Recent heavy rainfall in Paris has exacerbated pollution levels in the Seine, reversing earlier test results that deemed the river safe for swimming competitions. Paris 2024 and World Triathlon expressed confidence in a joint statement that water quality would improve before the triathlon competitions start on Tuesday. Meanwhile, biking and running training sessions proceeded as planned.
Contingency plans in place
Scott Schnitzspahn, the U.S. Olympic triathlon team’s general manager, noted daily updates on water quality and outlined contingency plans. If water conditions don’t improve, Plan B involves delaying the triathlon by one day, while Plan C would eliminate the swimming portion entirely.
Triathletes’ unconventional preparations
American triathlete Seth Rider revealed his unique strategy for preparing for potential E. coli exposure, citing his experience in last year’s test event and an unconventional method of increasing his E. coli threshold by not washing his hands after bathroom use. “I knew there was going to be some E. coli exposure. So I’ve been trying to increase my E. coli threshold by exposing myself to a bit of E. coli in day-to-day life,” he stated.