There is uncertainty about the upcoming Olympic triathlon event in Paris due to renewed concerns over the Seine’s water quality. The mixed relay, scheduled for Monday morning, may be delayed after heavy rain on Wednesday and Thursday led to increased bacteria levels in the river.
Earlier this week, the men’s race was rescheduled from Tuesday to Wednesday, which is now the same day as the women’s competition. Athletes will not be allowed to swim in the river until the day of their race.
British athletes are believed to have escaped any negative effects from swimming in the water, but their training is now facing further disruptions, as swim familiarization sessions have been canceled for both Saturday and Sunday.
After a meeting on Saturday evening, organizers released a statement on Sunday morning announcing the cancellation of the swim leg of the triathlon familiarization, originally scheduled for August 4 at 8 a.m.
“Due to the heavy rainfall on the nights of July 31 and August 1, especially upstream of Paris, we are still observing an impact on the water quality at our venue.”
“We anticipate that conditions will improve in the coming hours, but not to a degree that would allow the swim familiarization scheduled for Sunday to proceed.”
Britain claimed gold in the first-ever Olympic mixed relay at Tokyo and is expected to be a strong contender for another medal.
In Wednesday’s triathlons, Great Britain’s Alex Yee secured a gold medal in the men’s race, while Beth Potter earned a bronze in the women’s competition.
Be the first to comment