Triathlon practice cancelled in river Seine after Paris rain lifts pollution levels

Paris: Concerns over the water quality of the river Seine has continued to plague Olympic organisers, with a pre-race triathlon event cancelled on Sunday ahead of the scheduled races this week.

Heavy rain during the opening ceremony revived concerns over whether the long-polluted waterway would be clean enough to host swimming competitions, since water quality is deeply linked with the weather in the French capital, where untreated sewage can be washed into the river.

The river was declared clean enough for swimming in tests from mid-July, but doubts remained whether it would be fit for competition after daily water-quality tests in early June indicated unsafe levels of the E. coli bacteria.

Both the triathlon and marathon swimming are scheduled to take place on the river, with the men’s triathlon set for Tuesday and the women taking on the same 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run in the heart of Paris the following day. The mixed-team relay, which is also supposed to use the Seine, is set for August 5.

Organisers said the decision was made to scrap the swimming leg of the triathlon practice that was scheduled for the morning following a meeting of World Triathlon and Paris officials, with authorities tasked with carrying out water quality tests.

“The priority is the health of the athletes,” a Paris 2024 and World Triathlon statement said.

Boats carrying members of Olympic delegations sail along the Seine. Heavy rain during the opening ceremony revived concerns over the long-polluted waterway.Credit: Getty Images

“The analysis carried out yesterday in the Seine showed water-quality levels that... do not present sufficient guarantees to allow the event to take place.”

The statement blamed rain in recent days and said they were “confident” water quality would improve enough before the triathlon competition is due to start on July 30.

Asked at the weekend if he would swim in the Seine, despite the weather Australia’s top medal contender in the event, Matt Hauser, told reporters: “bloody oath I would”.

“It’s going to be a true test of an Olympic champion. It’s got to be a triathlon,” Hauser said.

“We’ve actually swum in pretty bad water before. We’ve taken all the precautions, we’ve taken some vaccines and stuff like that,” Hauser said. “If anything does arise, we’re prepared for it.”

Swimming in the Seine was banned more than a century ago in big part due to poor water quality. Organisers have invested $1.5 billion to prepare the Seine for these Games, and the government has said the river would be clean enough to hold events, including the swimming portion of the triathlon and the marathon swimming event.

Paris 2024 president Tony Estanguet told reporters on Sunday he was not “particularly worried,”

“We know that for 24 to 48 hours after heavy rain that we might need to delay [events],” he said. “The weather forecast shows that in theory the rain shouldn’t return.”

If the quality is below standards a “Plan B” involves postponing the events for a few days, dropping the swim leg altogether and, if necessary, moving the marathon swimming to Vaires-sur-Marne, on the Marne river east of Paris.

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