Paris Olympic triathletes swim in Seine after bacteria levels subside

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Women triathletes dove off a blue pontoon into the Seine river on Wednesday morning after the water finally tested as safe for competition, following days of delays and fierce criticism of Paris Olympics organisers.

“The results of the latest water analyses, received at 3.20am, have been assessed as compliant by World Triathlon allowing for the triathlon competitions to take place,” said the organisers and World Triathlon. 

The announcement came after two practice sessions were cancelled and the men’s triathlon was postponed by 24 hours to Wednesday because of high levels of E. coli and other bacteria in the water.

The French government had insisted on holding the swimming leg of triathlon races in the Seine, in an effort to revive bathing in the Parisian river after a century-long ban. Authorities spent €1.4bn on a years-long infrastructure push to make the Seine clean enough for the competition, but the plan remains entirely weather dependent.

When it rains heavily, as it did on Friday and Saturday, the city’s antique sewers overflow into the river so as to avoid flooding the streets with sewage. Paris sought to mitigate that risk by building a massive underground storage tank that could capture up to 46,000 cubic metres of wastewater to avoid it going into the river after storms. 

But the system was overwhelmed by the bad weather last week, putting at risk organisers’ often repeated promises that the river would be ready for the triathlon and marathon swimming. For several days tests showed E. coli and other bacteria levels were higher than the level of 900 colony-forming units limit set by World Triathlon as safe for competitions.

President Emmanuel Macron celebrated the long-awaited moment with a reminder of the state’s financial commitment. “Here we are! The Seine is swimmable,” he said on social media on Wednesday.

The triathlon was supposed to be a highlight of the Paris Olympics given that the course was set against the dramatic backdrop of the Seine and well-known monuments — the swimming starting at the Pont Alexandre III bridge, followed by cycling and running along the Champs Élysées and past the Musée d’Orsay. 

Instead, it began a flashpoint for criticism that the organisers had put their desire for postcard perfect event backdrops ahead of the needs of athletes who train for years to be able to compete in the Olympics.

There was no back-up site for the triathlon to be held if the river was too dirty to swim, although one was set for marathon swimming, the other event to be held in the Seine.

With more summer storms forecast in the coming days, it remains unclear if the mixed triathlon relay and marathon swimming can be held next week.

On Wednesday, tens of thousands of fans were lined up along the Seine and the Champs Élysées to cheer on the triathletes.

French athlete Cassandre Beaugrand broke through the finish line first to win the country’s first gold medal in the event. Switzerland’s Julie Derron won silver, and Team GB’s Beth Potter won bronze.