Olympic Triathletes Set to Dive into Seine River After Days of Uncertainty

The announcement to proceed with the triathlon swim events in the Seine River marks a significant victory for Paris and the Olympic organizers. Despite earlier concerns over water quality, both the women’s and men’s races will occur as planned.

PARIS, France — Following delays due to questionable water conditions, Olympic triathlon organizers confirmed the decision early Wednesday morning. The comprehensive water quality tests met required standards, allowing the races to proceed in the historic Parisian waterway.

This decision is seen as a triumph after an extensive and costly effort to clean the long-polluted Seine. The project, with investments amounting to 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion), included setting up new infrastructure to ensure the river could safely host the swimming portions of the triathlon and next week’s marathon swimming events.

The men’s race, initially set for Tuesday, was postponed due to high bacteria levels. It will now coincide with the women’s race originally scheduled for Wednesday. Prior test events had also been canceled due to similar issues, affecting athletes’ practice runs on the course.

Recent heavy rains have compounded the problem. Rainfall causes wastewater to overflow into the river, exacerbating the presence of harmful bacteria such as E. coli. High levels of this bacteria can lead to severe health issues, including gastrointestinal infections and urinary tract problems.

World Triathlon and EU guidelines denote acceptable E. coli levels in water. Levels exceeding 900 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters are deemed unsafe for swimming, but these guidelines serve primarily as risk assessors.

Testing was carried out roughly 21 hours before the final decision on the swim, which added an element of uncertainty regarding water safety on race day. Paris 2024 director of sports, Aurélie Merle, revealed tests showed mixed results, with one area falling below the safe threshold, while others exceeded it slightly.

Merle noted that environmental conditions like high heat and sun exposure could positively impact water quality. With a heatwave striking France, hopes are high that conditions would improve just in time for the athletes.

If needed, the marathon swimming events on August 8 and 9 might be moved to the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium. This facility already supports rowing and canoeing, with the capacity to host 15,000 spectators.

Substantial efforts have gone into making the Seine swimmable. Initiatives include the construction of a massive basin to manage excess rainwater, renovation of sewer systems, and upgrades to wastewater treatment facilities. For a symbolic display of confidence in the project, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and other officials recently swam in the Seine, albeit with E. coli levels slightly above the threshold that day.