Olympic Triathlon Scraps Seine Swim Training Again Due to Hazardous Water Quality

Concerns about water quality in the Seine River have prompted officials to cancel the swimming portion of an Olympic triathlon training session in Paris for the second consecutive day.

Despite this setback, organizers for the Paris Games remain hopeful that triathletes will be able to swim in the Seine when the competition begins on Tuesday. World Triathlon, along with its medical team and city officials, are relying on improving weather to lower bacteria levels to safe limits for the swim portion of the event.

The decision to cancel the swim workout was made early Monday after discussions about the river’s water quality, which has been negatively affected by recent weather. Rainy conditions during the weekend had already delayed some other events like tennis matches and skateboarding competitions.

The most recent water tests, conducted on Sunday, revealed that the bacteria levels in the Seine were too high to ensure a safe swimming environment. The Paris 2024 representatives and triathlon’s international federation pinpointed the heavy rainfall as the cause.

French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra expressed confidence in measures that have been put in place to control bacteria levels in the river but acknowledged that weather conditions are unpredictable. She remains optimistic that the event will proceed as planned.

If water quality does not improve, event organizers have a backup plan to convert the triathlon into a duathlon, removing the swimming segment entirely. The Seine has traditionally been off-limits for swimming because of long-standing water pollution issues, prompting a substantial investment of 1.4 billion euros for cleanup efforts.

Besides the men’s triathlon on Tuesday, the Seine is also scheduled to host the women’s triathlon on Wednesday and the triathlon mixed relay on Monday, as well as marathon swimming competitions in early August.

To improve the water quality, Paris has implemented several measures, including building a large basin to capture excess rainwater, upgrading sewer systems, and enhancing wastewater treatment plants. Earlier water quality tests in June showed high levels of E. coli bacteria, but these have improved due to recent interventions.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo recently took a highly publicized swim in the Seine to demonstrate her confidence in the water’s safety ahead of the Olympic events, aimed at easing public concerns.