Olympic triathlon events to go ahead as Seine passes water quality tests

Paris: The Olympic women’s and men’s triathlons will go ahead on Wednesday after the latest Seine River water tests showed lower levels of bacteria, ending days of uncertainty over whether the central Paris swim would be possible.

The decision from organisers came as a relief for the 110 athletes expecting to compete, and for Paris authorities who spent more than a billion euros cleaning up the river and promised residents a swimmable Seine as a long-term legacy of the Games.

“The results of the latest water analyses, received at 3.20am, have been assessed as compliant by World Triathlon allowing for the triathlon competitions to take place,” Paris 2024 and World Triathlon said in a statement.

Heavy rains last Friday and Saturday, including during the Opening Ceremony where athletes were soaked-to-the-bone, dirtied the river and forced the postponement of the scheduled familiarisation sessions on Sunday and Monday, along with the men’s event on Tuesday.

The men’s triathlon will now immediately follow the women’s event on Wednesday – set to start at 8am (4pm AEST).

Organisers had pencilled in Friday as an alternative day, if the water had still been deemed unsafe come Wednesday.

France has spent billions cleaning up and decorating the Seine for the Olympics.Credit: AP

However, Wednesday will come with its own challenges, with temperatures expected to rise to 35 degrees as part of a forecast heatwave. With the men’s triathlon due to start at 10.45am (6.45pm AEST), it’s likely they’ll be competing as temperatures in Paris start to find their peak.

Australians Matt Hauser and Luke Willian – both medal chances in the race – were “ready to race”, wanted to swim in the Seine and were aware that contingencies were in place, Australian chef de mission Anna Meares told journalists on Tuesday.

“They’re able to adapt due to this postponement, and we do believe that won’t affect their performances, just because they knew that this was a potential,” Meares said.

“In the context of mental and psychological preparation, they have been ready for this.

Australia’s Luke Willian and Matthew Hauser celebrate in Hamburg earlier this month.Credit: AP

“But with that in mind, we are looking forward to both men’s and women’s triathlon kicking off tomorrow if the weather can hold off.”

Hauser, who won bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022, told this masthead three months out from the Olympics that he would “swim in anything” to win a medal in Paris.

“Give me a swig of Coca-Cola and some Gastro-Stop tablets and just put me in there,” he said.

Australia also has two athletes – Sophie Linn and Natalie van Coevorden – in the women’s events.

with Reuters

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