Olympic triathletes fall ill after River Seine swims. What we know so far

globalnews.ca:

Some Olympic triathletes who swam in the River Seine have fallen sick and were forced to pull out of competition this week amid concerns about the river’s water quality – a simmering issue plaguing Paris 2024 organizers.

Team Belgium withdrew from Monday’s mixed relay triathlon after one of its athletes, who competed in the women’s individual triathlon event last week, got ill.

Meanwhile, Switzerland had to revise its own mixed relay lineup not once but twice due to gastrointestinal infections affecting two of its athletes – one of whom had competed in the men’s individual triathlon event held in the Seine on July 31.

The Associated Press also reported that a female triathlete from Sweden and a men’s triathlete from Norway got sick after competing in their individual events in the Seine last week.

It’s not yet clear if the illnesses were due to Seine’s water quality – which has been a constant concern in the lead-up to and throughout the Games.

In an emailed statement to Global News on Tuesday, a Paris 2024 spokesperson said “the health and well-being of athletes is our top priority.”

“With respect to competitions held in the Seine, water quality tests are carried out daily and the decision on whether to proceed with an event is taken by the International Federation, World Triathlon, in coordination with Paris 2024, and based on the test results and a range of (notably health) criteria,” the spokesperson said.

Bacteria levels had forced organizers to postpone the men’s triathlon by one day last week.

After days of uncertainty, more than 100 triathletes dipped into the Seine to compete in the men’s and women’s individual races last week.

On Tuesday, a test run meant to allow Olympic athletes to familiarize themselves with