Triathletes swim in Seine river for Paris Olympics as last-minute testing shows the river is safe
After months of speculation about whether the River Seine would be clean enough for Olympic athletes to compete in it, officials deemed the water safe for swimming following a last-minute test.
PARIS — After months of speculation about whether the Seine River would be clean enough for Olympic athletes to compete in it, officials deemed the water safe for swimming after a last-minute test.
The favorable test of the river’s water quality on Wednesday morning Paris time meant the men and women swam in back-to-back races as part of the triathlon. The men’s race was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but it was postponed after the Seine failed water quality tests.
“The results of the latest water analyses, received at 3:20 a.m., have been assessed as compliant by World Triathlon allowing for the triathlon competitions to take place,” said a news release from Paris organizers and World Triathlon, the sport’s governing body.
Against a backdrop of roaring crowds on a searingly hot day in Paris, Great Britain’s Alex Yee passed New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde on the final corner of the running leg of the race to seal the gold. Wilde finished in second and French athlete Léo Bergere took bronze on his home turf.
In the women's competition, France’s Cassandre Beaugrand picked up the gold medal ahead of Switzerland’s Julie Derron, who got silver. Beth Potter of Great Britain took the bronze.
Rating: 5