Belgium withdrew from the mixed relay triathlon on Monday (5), and Switzerland had to change its lineup after athletes from both countries fell ill following the initial triathlon races last week, held in the Seine River.
Belgium announced it was withdrawing from the race after one of its triathletes, Claire Michel, fell ill, said its National Olympic Committee in a statement. The statement did not specify Michel’s illness, which was reported days after she swam in the Seine during the women’s triathlon on Wednesday (31).
The Swiss team, meanwhile, had to replace Adrien Briffod, who had to withdraw due to a gastrointestinal infection. Simon Westermann will replace him.
Swiss Olympic medical director Hanspeter Betschart emphasized that it is unclear whether Briffod’s infection is related to the quality of the Seine’s water.
“A survey with my colleagues from other countries has not revealed any accumulation of gastrointestinal illnesses among the athletes who started the individual race last Wednesday,” said Betschart, the Swiss medical director.
Organizers of the Paris 2024 Games stated in a declaration that the quality of the water in the Seine was at a “very good” level on the morning of the individual triathlons.
“Water samples collected from the Seine on the morning of the individual triathlon events showed that the quality was at a level considered ‘very good’ by World Triathlon criteria, according to the results analyzed and released the following day,” the organizers said in a statement.
Athletes place their trust in the event organizers. Silver medalist Julie Derron from Switzerland said that athletes believed the race was safe based on the authorities’ words.
The decision to hold some swimming events in the famous river that divides Paris has sparked criticism since it was announced. Swimming in the Seine has been illegal for a century, but in their desire to showcase the host city, organizers devised a plan to clean the river so that the world’s best athletes could use it during Paris 2024. About $1.5 billion has been spent to clean the river ahead of the Games.
Source: CNN