Criticism over the decision to allow athletes to swim in the Seine during the Paris 2024 Olympics has intensified following troubling reports from competitors.
German swimmer Leonie Beck has publicly criticized the decision after experiencing severe gastrointestinal issues. Beck revealed on social media that she suffered from intense diarrhea and vomiting, describing her condition as “vomitted [sic] nine times yesterday plus diarrhea,” despite the Seine’s water quality having passed official tests. This disclosure has ignited a wave of backlash from the athletic community and raised questions about the safety of the river.
Paris authorities have invested over £1.2 billion in efforts to clean the Seine, but reports from June, just a month before the Games, indicated that the river still had ten times the permissible levels of E. coli bacteria. This led to delays and concerns surrounding the triathlon event, which faced several interruptions due to adverse weather conditions, including a thunderstorm. Although the event was eventually held after passing water-quality tests, the issues with the Seine’s cleanliness have remained a major point of contention.
The situation has been exacerbated by other athletes’ experiences. Belgian triathlete Claire Michel was hospitalized with E. coli after competing in the river swim, which forced her team to withdraw from the mixed relay due to a lack of replacement swimmers. Michel’s teammate, Jolien Vermeylen, expressed her frustration vehemently, calling the decision to allow swimming in the Seine “bull—-.” She criticized the authorities for not prioritizing athlete safety, arguing that the river has been polluted for decades and questioning the credibility of the cleanliness claims.
Swiss athlete Adrien Briffod also reported suffering from a gastrointestinal infection, although his national federation has stated it is “impossible to say” whether the infection was related to the Seine’s water quality. This uncertainty further fuels concerns about the safety of the water and the decision to include the river in the Olympics.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has attempted to counteract these criticisms by taking a swim in the Seine herself, asserting that the water is “delicious” and safe for competition. However, the ongoing health issues reported by athletes suggest that there are still significant concerns regarding the river’s water quality and the broader implications for athlete health and safety.
