The men’s triathlon at the Paris Olympics, originally scheduled for Tuesday, has been postponed to Wednesday due to high pollution levels in the Seine, World Triathlon announced. The rescheduled race will now take place at 10:45 a.m. (0845 GMT), following the women’s event at 8 a.m. on the same day. This decision, driven by health concerns, has introduced uncertainty for both athletes and organizers.
Organizers had hoped for improved water quality after recent rains on Friday and Saturday caused contamination in the river. Although some improvement was noted, World Triathlon reported that water quality in parts of the swim course remained above acceptable levels.
— World Triathlon (@worldtriathlon) July 30, 2024
“Despite the improvement of water quality levels over the last hours, the readings at some points of the swim course are still above the acceptable limits,” World Triathlon stated early on Tuesday. “Paris 2024 and World Triathlon reiterate that their priority is the health of the athletes.”
If bacterial contamination remains high on Wednesday morning, both the men’s and women’s races may be postponed further to Friday, designated as the contingency day. If water quality is still a concern on Friday, the swim leg will be removed, and the event will be converted into a duathlon. The mixed triathlon relay event, scheduled for August 5, has a contingency date set for August 6. In an effort to reduce sewage discharge into the Seine and make the river swimmable, Paris authorities have invested 1.4 billion euros ($1.51 billion) in wastewater infrastructure.
This initiative is aimed at creating a lasting legacy from the Games. Earlier this month, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo swam in the river to assure skeptics of its improved safety.
However, predicting water quality on race day remains challenging due to its variable nature. Rainfall significantly increases levels of harmful bacteria such as E. coli and enterococci in the river. Seth Rider, one of the 55 triathletes competing in the men’s race, shared his unique approach to preparing for potential bacteria exposure. “We know there will be some E. coli exposure, so I try to build up my E. coli tolerance by exposing myself to small amounts in daily life,” the U.S. athlete explained during a press conference on Saturday.
The Olympic triathlon course is designed to highlight Paris’s iconic landmarks, with the Seine swim as a central feature. Athletes will start the swimming segment from a pontoon near the Alexandre III bridge.. They will then cycle and run past iconic sites such as the Musée d’Orsay and Grand Palais, finishing the race back at the starting point. Competitors crossing the finish line on the bridge will be framed by the stone columns topped with gilt-bronze statues of Pegasus, with the golden dome of the Invalides monument providing a majestic background.
