Triathletes Face Illnesses After Swimming in the Seine River
- ByLuc Dubois --
- 2024-08-05 08:09:03 --
- 0 Comments --
- FRA
Swiss and Belgian Triathletes Withdraw from Events Due to Gastrointestinal Infections
In a concerning development at the Paris 2024 Olympics, several triathletes have fallen ill after swimming in the Seine River during the recent competitions. The triathlon events, which were touted as a historic return to swimming in the Seine after over a century of prohibition, have now been marred by reports of athletes contracting gastrointestinal infections.
The Swiss Olympic team has announced that triathlete Adrien Briffod will be replaced in the mixed relay event due to a gastrointestinal infection. According to the team's medical director, Hanspeter Betschart, it is impossible to say if Briffod's infection is directly linked to the water quality of the Seine, which has been a topic of debate in recent days.
Betschart stated, "A survey with my colleagues in other countries so far has not revealed an accumulation of gastrointestinal diseases among athletes who started the individual race last Wednesday." However, the team's replacement athlete, Simon Westermann, has also been affected by the same health issue and will now be replaced by Sylvain Fridelance.
"Two withdrawals in just a few days is very unusual and regrettable for the athletes who were so eager to participate in this Olympic event. But in high-performance sports, you have to accept the situation quickly, react and find the best possible solution. We are convinced that our team will also put in a good performance with this composition."
The situation is not limited to the Swiss team. The Belgian triathlete Claire Michel has also been hospitalized due to an Escherichia coli (E. coli) infection, forcing the entire Belgian team to withdraw from the mixed relay event scheduled for Monday.
The Olympic Committee of Belgium (COIB) and Belgian Triathlon have stated that they hope lessons will be learned for future triathlon competitions at the Olympic Games. The E. coli bacteria, which can be transmitted through contaminated water or food, can cause severe illness, even with small exposures.
The Mayo Clinic explains that "human and animal feces can pollute groundwater and surface waters, including streams, rivers, lakes, and water used to irrigate crops." They further state that "some people have also been infected with E. coli after swimming in pools or lakes contaminated with feces."
The Paris 2024 organizers had invested over 1.4 billion euros (approximately 8.7 billion Brazilian reals) to create infrastructure to reduce pollution in the Seine and its tributary, the Marne, in order to allow swimming in the river once again. However, after heavy rains, the water quality of the Seine was considered unsuitable for swimming, leading to the postponement of the men's triathlon event.
One of the Belgian swimmers, Jolien Vermelylen, expressed her concerns about the experience, stating, "Swimming under the bridge, I felt and saw things that it's better not to think about too much."
The triathlon and open water swimming events in the Seine were meant to be historic landmarks for the Paris 2024 Olympics, showcasing the city's efforts to reduce pollution and revive the river's recreational use. However, these recent health issues have cast a shadow over the achievements and raise important questions about the safety and preparedness of the Olympic organizers.
As the Olympics continue, the health and wellbeing of the athletes must remain the top priority. The organizers will need to thoroughly investigate the causes of these illnesses and implement immediate measures to ensure the safety of the remaining events. The success of the Paris 2024 Games will be judged not just by the athletic performances, but also by the ability to provide a safe and healthy environment for the competitors.