As the Paris 2024 Olympics approach, concerns over water quality in the Seine River have prompted World Aquatics to cancel a familiarization session scheduled for open water swimming. This decision comes after several participants in the Olympic triathlon reportedly fell ill with E. coli after competing in the river.

The familiarization session, originally planned for Tuesday morning, was called off during a coordination meeting held at 4:00 AM. Water quality readings have shown fluctuations throughout the past week, with Enterococci levels exceeding the maximum acceptable thresholds set by World Aquatics during a morning review. Although the most recent testing indicated some improvement in the Seine's water quality, one out of four tests still fell short of the accepted standards.

A second familiarization swimming session at the Pont Alexandre III competition venue is scheduled for August 7th, with a water quality review session set to be held earlier that morning. World Aquatics will make a decision based on the results of this review regarding whether the session can proceed. Despite these concerns, both World Aquatics and Paris 2024 express confidence that the Marathon Swimming competitions, scheduled for August 8th and 9th, will proceed as planned, taking into account favorable weather conditions and forward-looking analysis.

In light of the water quality issues, open water swimming has a backup plan in place at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, which serves as the Olympic sailing venue. This backup option may play a role in the final decision-making process. In contrast, the triathlon events have already been completed, with competitors swimming in the Seine. Unfortunately, one team, Belgium, had to withdraw from the relay event after one of their athletes was hospitalized due to an E. coli infection.

The Belgian Olympic Committee expressed its hope that lessons would be learned for future triathlon competitions at the Olympic Games, emphasizing the need for clear guidelines regarding training and competition days to avoid any uncertainty for athletes and support personnel. Additionally, three other triathletes have reportedly fallen ill, including Switzerland's Adrien Briffod, who was replaced due to a gastrointestinal infection, and New Zealand's Hayden Wilde, a silver medalist in the men's triathlon, who is now reported to have contracted an E. coli infection after participating in the relay event.

Paris 2024 Olympic Games organizers stated that water quality tests are conducted daily, and the decision to proceed with events held in the Seine is made in coordination with the International Federation World Triathlon, based on a range of criteria including health considerations. The organizers reaffirmed their commitment to prioritizing the health and wellbeing of athletes.

As the countdown to the Paris 2024 Olympics continues, the issue of water quality remains a significant concern. It is hoped that ongoing efforts to monitor and improve the situation will ensure the safety and well-being of all participating athletes.