Several triathlon participants suffered repeated vomiting episodes after swimming in the River Seine, which was described as polluted despite the intensive efforts and huge sums spent to clean it.
The competitions scheduled for Tuesday were postponed to the following day due to the increasing pollution caused by heavy rains, and although the races were approved to resume, with the British team succeeding in both the women’s and men’s races, the physical condition of the competitors was below the expected level.
Canadian Tyler Mislawchuk, who came in ninth, appeared to be in a state of extreme exhaustion at the finish line, and was captured on camera suffering from nausea and severe vomiting as he completed a race that included a 1.5-kilometer swim in polluted water, a 40-kilometer bike ride, and a 10-kilometer run.
Triathletes vomited after swimming on the Seine at the Olympics.
Ekaterina Shabalina, who played for the Kazakhstan national team, and Canadian Tyler Mislavchuk felt unwell.
Due to river pollution, the men’s triathlon at the Games took place a day late.
Beware, unpleasant footage pic.twitter.com/b7bqZ8pImw— Vitaliy V (@VitaliyV13) July 31, 2024
Kazakhstani athlete Ekaterina Shabalina suffered a similar fate, having to withdraw after choking and vomiting due to the quality of the water.
In a desperate attempt to prevent illness, American Seth Ryder adopted an unconventional tactic by avoiding washing his hands after using the toilet, hoping to boost his immunity, but without a noticeable improvement in performance.
The pollution in the Seine dates back to 1923, when swimming was banned, and Paris has spent more than $1.5 billion over the decades to clean up the Seine, including improving the sewage system and treating rainwater.
Tests have shown unsafe levels of E. coli bacteria in several areas of the river, exceeding the limit allowed by the International Triathlon Union.
A mass health crisis strikes the French national team on the eve of the 2024 European Nations Cup