In a concerning incident, an Olympic triathlete vomited following his swim in the River Seine due to pollution levels.
The alarm about pollution levels in the Seine River intensified after an Olympic triathlete fell ill, despite the water being deemed unsafe the day before.
The River Seine faced significant scrutiny during the men’s triathlon at the Paris Olympics after an Olympic athlete raised concerns about safety.
Canada’s Tyler Mislawchuk experienced health issues, including vomiting, after swimming in the polluted River Seine.
Despite undergoing a major €1.4 billion transformation to improve water quality, the river’s pollution levels remained high. This led to the postponement of the event.
Water quality concerns lead to event postponement
Initially, the men’s triathlon was set to take place on July 30.
However, the event was postponed after officials determined the water was too polluted for safe competition.
A meeting held at 3:30 AM on July 30 included representatives from Paris 2024, World Triathlon, the International Olympic Committee, Météo France, and local authorities.
The decision was made to delay the event due to unsafe conditions.
Olympic Triathlete vomit moments after the competition starts
The triathlon was rescheduled to the following morning, July 31. Despite the green light to proceed, Canadian triathlete Tyler Mislawchuk experienced health issues shortly after completing the race.
On the X platform, a user named @TwDead95 shared a video showing Canadian triathlete Tyler Mislawchuk vomiting after completing the race.
In the footage, the 29-year-old athlete was seen stumbling through the finish line before vomiting moments later.
The triathlon demands a 1.5 km swim, a 40 km bike ride, and a 10 km run. The physical exertion of the event, combined with concerns about water quality, likely contributed to his condition.
The video quickly went viral and left viewers stunned by concerns about pollution levels.
One person said: Since swimming is the first leg of a triathlon, and the heat index was over 100, I would agree that this is from exhaustion.
A second wrote: Quite common to do after pushing yourself to a limit doubt it’s got anything to do with the river
While a third commented: Oh he just worked himself too hard like a lot of athletes…
Another added: Since swimming is the first leg of a triathlon, and the heat index was over 100, I would agree that this is from exhaustion.
So, this combination of factors may have led to his illness.
Some athletes are taking precautions due to the pollution levels in the River Seine
Amidst the controversy, some athletes took unconventional measures to prepare for potential exposure to pollutants.
Additionally, the USA’s Seth Rider mentioned deliberately avoiding hand washing to build his immunity against E. coli.
This preparation was aimed at mitigating the risks associated with swimming in potentially contaminated water.
Health risks of swimming in polluted water
Experts revealed the risks associated with swimming in unsafe water.
They pointed out that these risks include gastrointestinal issues, eye and skin infections, and respiratory illnesses.
Athletes’ immune systems, often suppressed due to intense training, are particularly vulnerable.
According to Jamie Wilks and Lois Mougin from Loughborough University, these risks are exacerbated by extreme weather conditions that can affect water quality. While the Seine’s water quality remains a concern, the rowing events are being held at the Vaires-sur-Marne venue, offering a safer alternative.
The ongoing challenges highlight the need for stringent measures.
These measures are crucial to protecting athletes and upholding the integrity of Olympic competitions.