Water too dirty: No training for Steinhauser

The cancellation of the first swimming training of the triathletes at the Olympics in Paris raises doubts about the planned competitions in the Seine.

July 28, 2024

From: fop/dpa

Because the water quality was not sufficient from the perspective of the world association, the organizers of the Summer Games decided on Sunday morning to forego the swimming training sessions. Only the running and cycling training on the Olympic course was to take place. This also affects Verena Steinhauser from Brixen, who will be making her second Olympic appearance of her career in the women's individual competition on Wednesday.

The tests carried out on Saturday did not provide the guarantees required by the triathlon umbrella organization that the water was sufficiently clean to allow swimming, it was said. The reason was the rain in Paris in recent days. "Paris 2024 and World Triathlon reaffirm that the health of the athletes is a priority," the Olympic organizers said.

Verena Steinhauser is scheduled to compete in the Olympics on Wednesday.

For a long time, there was debate in Paris about whether the quality of the water in the Seine was really good enough for competitions to take place there. In recent years, 1,4 billion euros were invested in sewage treatment plants and the sewage system in the greater Paris area to improve water quality. One of the measures now being taken is to prevent toilet wastewater from entering the river along with the water masses during heavy rain.

Weather forecast gives hope

However, during checks carried out in recent months, the water quality left much to be desired. The city justified this by citing the unusually humid weather and low temperatures. This is because higher temperatures and a lower water level in the Seine mean that pathogens are broken down more quickly.

The weather forecast with plenty of sunshine in the next few days makes the organizers optimistic that the competitions will not have to be postponed. They are confident that the limit values will be undercut again by the time the first triathlon decision is made on Tuesday.