• Friday, 22 November 2024

Olympic organizers pull plug on triathlon training in the Seine again

Olympic organizers pull plug on triathlon training in the Seine again

Paris, 29 July 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Olympic organizers on Monday cancelled the second swimming training session for triathletes in the Seine due to poor water quality.

The first swimming training session was cancelled on Sunday.

Fears have grown for months that Paris 2024's plan to hold the triathlon swimming and the open water swimming in the city's river was putting athletes at risk due to pollution in the Seine.

Only running and cycling training sessions will take place on the triathlon course. Actual competition is Tuesday (men), Wednesday (women) and a week on Monday (mixed relay). The open water/marathon swimming is on August 8 and 9.


Water tests carried out on Sunday had not provided the guarantees required by triathlon's governing body.

Olympic organizers and World Triathlon were "confident" that the water quality would be back within the limits before the start of the triathlon competitions, they said in a statement.

The water quality of the Seine has improved significantly overall in July and sunshine is forecast over the next few days.

Photo: EPA