The debate about the quality of the river water continues. Three triathletes contracted an intestinal infection at the Paris Olympics. The Swiss had to make two substitutions in the mixed relay. The Belgian team also suffered.
First, Swiss athlete Adrien Brifford fell ill, and Simon Westermann was supposed to take his place. But later he also consulted doctors, who diagnosed him with the same disease. As a result, Sylvain Friedlands will compete for the Swedish team.
Of the two who fell ill, only Brifford had previously competed in the Seine.
The head physician of the Swiss team, Hanspeter Betschart, noted that it is not yet clear whether the infection is related to the quality of the water in the river.
“A survey of my colleagues from other countries has not yet revealed a large number of gastrointestinal diseases among the athletes who participated in the swims on Wednesday (July 31)“, the portal of the Swiss Olympic team quotes Betschart as saying.
Belgian triathlete also fell ill
Claire Michel also developed an intestinal infection after swimming in the river. The athlete was hospitalized four days after the competition.
Training in the Seine and the swimming part of the triathlon were postponed for several days due to water pollution caused by rain.
Also, water training was cancelled on August 3 and 4. Despite this, the Olympic organizers received permission to hold the mixed relay on August 5.
Sports Minister Swims in the Seine
On the eve of the Olympic Games, French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera swam in the Seine to confirm the suitability of the river for swimming competitions.
“Promise fulfilled!” she wrote on her page on the social network X, accompanying the post with photos and a video of the swim.
She was accompanied by the winner of the World and European Paratriathlon Championships, as well as the winner of the Tokyo Paralympic Games, Alexis Anquinkan.
Are there faecal bacteria floating in the Seine?
Since the summer of 2023, associations have been drawing the attention of the authorities and the media to the high level of water pollution in the Seine. It was reported that there are “bacteria of faecal origin”.
The Parisian authorities promised to take the necessary measures to clean the river in order to make it accessible for swimming and to host the Olympic competitions.
Deputy Mayor of Paris Pierre Rabadan, on air on RFI radio on July 12, stated that the quality of the water in the river had improved at the end of June.
