Men’s triathlon race postponed to July 31 due to Seine pollution levels
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If levels of bacteria remain too high by July 31 morning, both the men's and women's races are likely to be postponed to Aug 2.
PHOTO: REUTERS
PARIS – The men’s triathlon at the Paris Olympics on July 30 was postponed as pollution levels in the River Seine remain too high, World Triathlon said, dealing a blow to organisers and leaving athletes facing more uncertainty.
The race was postponed to July 31 at 10.45am local time (4.45pm Singapore time), immediately after the women’s event, which is scheduled for 8am. The mixed team relay is set for Aug 5.
Organisers had previously said they were confident water quality would improve in time for the race after heavy rain last weekend dirtied the river.
“Despite the improvement of water-quality levels over the last hours, the readings at some points of the swim course are still above the acceptable limits. Paris 2024 and World Triathlon reiterate that their priority is the health of the athletes,” they said on July 30.
Should levels of bacteria remain still too high on July 31, both the men and women’s races are likely to be postponed to Aug 2, the contingency day reserved for the events.
If by then the water quality is still not good enough, the swim leg will be scrapped and athletes will compete in a duathlon instead.
Paris authorities have promised to make the Seine swimmable as a key legacy of the Games, and spent €1.4 billion (S$2 billion) on wastewater infrastructure to contain sewage and minimise spillage into the waterway.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo took a dip in the river herself earlier in July, in a bid to convince doubters. But the gamble that the river would be clean enough on the day of the triathlon was never guaranteed to pay off, especially as water quality varies widely day to day.
Rain significantly increases concentrations of infection-causing bacteria like E. coli and enterococci.
Seth Rider, one of 55 triathletes entered in the men’s race, said he took unconventional measures to prepare for exposure to bacteria.
“We know that there’s going to be some E. coli exposure, so I just try to increase my E. coli threshold by exposing myself to a bit of E. coli in your day-to-day life,” the American said.
The Olympic triathlon course was conceived to maximise the wow factor, with the river swim a key element.
After diving into the Seine from a pontoon next to the Alexandre III bridge, athletes are set to race past the Musee d’Orsay and Grand Palais during the bike and run elements before ending back where they started.
Crossing the finish line on the bridge, competitors will be framed by stone columns topped with gilt-bronze statues of Pegasus, with the golden dome of the early 18th-century Invalides monument as a backdrop. REUTERS
