Paris 2024: Nervous athletes forced to flush out traces of dirty Seine

With more athletes falling ill, Australia is so concerned about the health issues the River Seine may present it has urged its athletes to continue their treatment even after they depart the Games and head home.

Australia’s triathlon campaign is over but its athletes will continue to use five different forms of treatment to safeguard their health after swimming in the River Seine.

Australia finished 12th in a mixed triathlon relay that went ahead only after concerned officials gave a cautious green light when tests just 12 hours before the race revealed bacteria levels were below acceptable limits. It was such a tight call, race eve practice was cancelled due to other tests which revealed the river was unsafe.

A storm is raging behind closed doors and there is no certainty the Seine will be fit to host the open water swimming later this week.

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Belgium pulled out of the relay after Claire Michel was unable to compete after falling ill with an E.coli infection after swimming in the women’s triathlon earlier in the Games.

Michel has been sick for the past four days. Swiss triathlete Adrien Brifford also fell ill after racing in the river.

Australia is so concerned about the issues it has urged its athletes to continue their treatment even after they depart the Games and head home.

Natalie van Coevorden exits the Seine. Picture: Getty Images

“Body wash, mouth wash, ear wash, eye wash … some antibiotics,’’ said Australia’s lead-off man Luke Willian.

“It is full on but we will do all those little things to make sure we don’t get sick.”

What do you make of the River Seine being used in the Olympics? Picture: Getty Images

Australia started brightly with Willian leading after the swim and bike legs but the race was effectively over after second leg Natalie Van Coevorden struggled in a strong current and then slipped off her saddle getting on her bike, something she said she had never done before. That left duo Matt Hauser and Sophie Linn with an impossible mountain to climb with Australian officials hoping the athletes would retain their good health.

“We’re not unused to competing in poor water quality, so we’ve been expecting this for a while,” AOC chief medical officer Dr Carolyn Broderick said.

“So we assume that when it’s declared safe, that it is safe, but we’re taking extra measures.’’

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Originally published as Paris 2024: Nervous athletes forced to flush out traces of dirty Seine