French triathlete Cassandre Beaugrand made history at the #Paris2024 Olympics, swimming through skepticism – and the Seine River – to claim France’s first-ever triathlon gold medal 🏅. Her victory came after weeks of heated debates about the river’s water quality, which forced event delays and canceled practices.
💬 'We’ve swum in worse!' Beaugrand told reporters, shrugging off concerns. 'In Tokyo, the water wasn’t great either, but no one got sick. We tested the Seine last year – same result.' The 27-year-old kept her cool during the race, saying she focused on overtaking rivals during the run: 'I gritted my teeth and went for it.'
🌊 The Seine’s murky reputation became a subplot of these Games, with viral TikTok clips showing algae blooms. But Beaugrand and 64 other athletes proved resilience beats river drama. Meanwhile, Great Britain’s Alex Yee dominated the men’s event, while Germany swept the mixed relay title.
📸 Fun fact: This marked the first time Olympic triathletes raced past iconic Paris landmarks like Pont Alexandre III. Talk about a victory lap!
