The Paris Olympics have been thrust into controversy after three German swimmers fell ill following their participation in open water events held in the Seine River. The athletes, who experienced symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, have since recovered, but the incident has reignited concerns about the safety of the river, despite assurances from officials that the water quality met international standards.
The German Olympic Sports Confederation confirmed that three of its athletes became sick after the competition, with two female swimmers treated as outpatients on Friday and a third swimmer still under medical care. While the confederation did not release the names, Leonie Beck, who placed ninth in the women’s 10-kilometer race, took to Instagram to share her experience. Beck posted a picture of herself looking unwell and sarcastically commented on the water quality in the Seine, which she suggested was responsible for her illness.
The Seine River, historically known for its pollution, underwent a significant cleanup operation ahead of the Olympics, with Paris organizers and World Aquatics, the governing body for open water swimming, insisting that the water quality met safety standards. However, the illnesses reported by the German swimmers have cast doubt on these assurances.
In response to the reports of illness, the Paris organizing committee expressed concern for the athletes but emphasized that there was no confirmed link between their sickness and the water quality in the Seine. “Water quality on the day of the marathon was considered ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ across all four testing points,” the committee stated.
The incident has reignited debate over the decision to hold swimming events in the Seine, a river that had been banned for swimming for over a century due to high levels of bacteria. Despite the cleanup efforts, some water quality readings before the event showed levels of harmful bacteria that exceeded acceptable limits, leading to the cancellation of a practice session and adjustments to the triathlon schedule.
As the Olympics continue, the health and safety of the athletes remain a top priority, and the incident involving the German swimmers has highlighted the ongoing challenges of hosting open water events in urban rivers like the Seine. The situation has put Paris organizers under pressure to ensure that all necessary precautions are taken to protect the athletes from potential health risks.
