Water quality fears threaten Ironman event

This weekend’s sold-out Ironman event at St Kilda could be forced to change course due to unsafe water quality in the bay.

Sunday’s sold-out Ironman event could become a duathlon.

As the state’s catastrophic flooding event washes out into the bay, authorities have issued warnings about water quality which could see this year’s Ironman taking a different course.

Sunday’s sold-out event currently consists of a 1.9km swim, 90km bike ride and 21.1km run along some of the city’s best beaches.

However the triathlon faces the prospect of becoming a duathlon after the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) urged swimmers on Monday to steer clear of 16 destinations along Port Phillip Bay.

St Kilda beach, where the swimming stint of the event is being held, falls into this category, with authorities asking beachgoers to avoid contact with water containing sea foam and treated wastewater discharges.

“After storms, many natural compounds in water can act as surfactants or detergents, causing sea foam,” the EPA states on its website.

“Often, sea foam might be harmless, however given the exact composition is unknown and may contain irritants, it’s best to take a precautionary approach and avoid water where foam is occurring.”

#StKildaBeach after this crazy weather we've had lately. The water is brown and filthy! The Environment Protection Authority of Victoria (@vicgovepa) advises against swimming for now. Stay safe everyone! Stay out of that water!!
https://t.co/jvQdlaIvCLpic.twitter.com/P4UcrKYYLo

— St Kilda Life (@StKildaLife) November 1, 2022

While the water quality forecast remains fair, the presence of the above scenarios could make it unsafe for swimming, potentially determining the event’s fate.

Ironman Regional Director Carl Smith told the Herald Sun that the Melbourne team were working with the relevant agencies to determine an outcome for Sunday’s event provided the water quality doesn’t improve.

“If it becomes clear that it is not safe to hold the swim element of Sunday’s Ironman 70.3 Melbourne we will move to a duathlon event, featuring a run, ride, run, with final distances and format for the day to be communicated to registered athletes ahead of race day,” he said.

“Ironman 70.3 Melbourne will take place this Sunday as planned, though the format may be altered from what was originally planned.”

Concerns about water quality could force organisers to turn the Ironman event into a duathlon.

Participants will receive an update by email if changes are made, likely to be determined closer to Sunday.

The call to possibly remove the swimming section of the race has disappointed some participants with a few asking to transfer their entry to another race.

“Can I transfer entry to Geelong if you make it a Duathlon please – a decision before Saturday would also be helpful so I can save money on my flights as well,” one participant commented.

Organisers of the event have also warned about cold water temperatures averaging about 16 degrees celsius.

Under race rules, if water temperatures are below 16 degrees, wetsuits are mandatory in the swimming stint.

The Herald Sun has contacted Ironman organisers for further comment on the matter.