Ultimately Fell Ill Amid Seine Water Quality Controversy... Belgian Triathlon Team Withdraws [Paris Olympics]

Amid ongoing water quality controversies surrounding the Seine River, where some events of the 2024 Paris Olympics are being held, the Belgian triathlon mixed relay team withdrew from the competition on the 4th (local time), one day before the race.

[Image source=UPI Yonhap News]

According to AP News and others, the Belgian Olympic Committee (COIB) announced in a statement that Claire Michel, who participated in the women's triathlon event, "unfortunately fell ill and had to withdraw from the (mixed relay) race."

The specific cause of Michel's illness, which led to the withdrawal, was not disclosed. However, foreign media including AP News noted that this announcement came amid ongoing controversies over the Seine River's water quality. Michel had competed in the women's individual triathlon event on the 31st of last month, held in the Seine. The mixed relay event scheduled for the morning of the 5th is also set to take place in the Seine.

COIB emphasized, "We hope this serves as a lesson for future Olympic triathlon events," adding, "The number of training and competition days and the format of the event must be clearly defined in advance to avoid any uncertainty for athletes, staff, and supporters."

This is not the first case where the Seine's water quality is suspected as the cause of illness. Previously, Norwegian triathlete Betel Bergsvik Sohn showed symptoms such as abdominal pain and vomiting just one day after competing in the men's individual event. However, Sohn told Norwegian media that he believed food poisoning might be the cause and stated he planned to participate in the mixed relay on the 5th. Arild Tveiten, sports director of the Norwegian Triathlon Federation, said, "Everyone is thinking about the river as the cause," but added, "We don't know. It could be the river or it could be the chicken. Medical staff are leaning towards food poisoning as the cause."

The day before, Switzerland also announced that their triathlon representative Adrien Briffod contracted gastritis after competing in the men's individual event on the 31st of last month. Swiss officials said it was "impossible to say" whether Briffod's condition was related to swimming in the Seine, but suspicions persist. Switzerland confirmed plans to participate in the event on the 5th, but another athlete selected to replace Briffod, Simon Vester, also withdrew due to gastroenteritis. Vester did not compete in the Seine, so his withdrawal is unrelated to the water quality controversy.

The Seine, located in the heart of Paris, has been off-limits for swimming since the early 1920s due to water pollution issues. However, the French government and the City of Paris invested approximately 1.4 billion euros to improve water quality for this Olympic Games, including constructing underground water storage basins, upgrading sewage infrastructure, and enhancing wastewater treatment. Before the Olympics began, indicators showed that the Seine's water quality had improved to meet swimming standards, but recent heavy rains caused a rapid deterioration in water quality, leading to the cancellation of triathlon training and the first men's individual event, sparking controversy. According to the World Aquatics Federation's water quality standards, the maximum allowable level of E. coli is 1000 CFU (colony-forming units) per 100mL, and enterococci is 400 CFU. Swimming in water exceeding these levels can cause various illnesses such as gastroenteritis and conjunctivitis.

On the 8th and 9th, marathon swimming events will be held in the Seine. The organizers plan to adjust the venue if necessary and hold the marathon swimming at the Ver-sur-Marne course, where canoe events take place. Daniel Wiffen, an Irish bronze medalist scheduled to compete in marathon swimming, told AP News that he would not train in the Seine beforehand, saying, "I don't want to fight any diseases."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.