Olympic triathletes are facing turbulent waters ahead of their events as swimming training in Paris’ Seine River was canceled for the second consecutive day due to pollution concerns. With the men’s race just 24 hours away, organizers scrambled to address risks caused by heavy rain that boosted bacteria levels and river currents 🌧️💩.
A Problem That Flowed Downstream
Friday’s downpour during the Opening Ceremony overwhelmed Paris’ sewage system, spilling untreated waste into the Seine. Despite a decade-long $1.5 billion cleanup effort—including a new wastewater basin—recent tests revealed unsafe E. coli levels, linked to fecal matter. \"The water didn’t meet safety guarantees,\" officials stated, though sunny weather Monday brought hope for improvement ☀️.
Plan B (or C?)
If bacteria levels stay high, athletes might swap their swimsuits for running shoes 👟: A duathlon (run-bike-run) could replace the triathlon. Marathon swimming events might relocate to Vaires-sur-Marne. Organizers will decide at 4 a.m. local time Tuesday—just four hours before the men’s race starts ⏰.
This isn’t Paris’ first weather-related shuffle: Men’s skateboarding and tennis events were also moved due to rain. The Seine’s comeback moment—after a 100-year swimming ban—hangs in the balance 🤞.
