The swimming portion of a triathlon practice for the triathlon was cancelled Sunday because of concerns over water quality in the River Seine. Paris officials maintain they are confident that triathletes will swim in the waterway during the competitions this week.
The men’s triathlon is scheduled for Tuesday, while the women are set to go Wednesday. The triathletes were supposed to have a chance to familiarize themselves with the course Sunday. However, organizers said they nixed the swimming leg after representatives from World Triathlon, city and regional authorities, and other decision-makers met to discuss water quality tests.
Triathlon-Swimming training session cancelled after rain lifts pollution levels in Seine https://t.co/a6clR01nNF pic.twitter.com/PNFf8YXp96
— Reuters (@Reuters) July 28, 2024
The surface water quality in the Seine is affected by the weather. After heavy rains fell during Friday’s Olympics opening ceremony and showers continued Saturday, the decision was made to cancel the test swim. With no more rain in the forecast, officials say they expect athletes will get the unique experience of racing in the Seine.
It is possible that the triathlon could be shortened by the swim and the event in that case could be a duathlon, which would include run, cycle, run. The format would benefit different athletes, as the strongest runners would have an advantage.
A massive €1.4bn (£1.18bn or $1.5bn) has been spent on cleaning up the iconic river in the hope of making it swimmable for the first time in a century. Paris 2024 was set to showcase that work with triathlon swims set to take place there.
As yet, there is no certainty that water quality for the races will be good enough to allow swims to take place. As it stands reserve days are in place (August 2 for individual events and August 6 for Mixed Relay) but Plan C is downgrading races to the duathlon.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has admitted that she may not be as fit as she has been. Getting to the start line healthy is the priority at this time. The 10-time World Champion and multi-Olympic medallist said training has not gone as planned as of late.
“Preparations-wise, honestly, it wouldn’t have been the way I wanted it this year but, ultimately, I felt like I had a good training session last month, and I think that has been really good for me. So, I am always one of those persons who believes that experience will work,” the Jamaican said.
Take a look at a banner of Shelly-ann Fraser-Pryce at the Nike Headquarters in Oregon ahead of the Paris Olympics
— RoriDunk (@FitzDunk) July 24, 2024
SFP is a 3x Olympic champion #Olympics
(📷 shivydidon) pic.twitter.com/Xh2nqTm5XF
“It will always give you a solid start and so that is what I am banking on — the experience that I have had all the other years that I have been to different championships. I am really hoping to showcase that in the coming days. For me, it is getting to the line — that is most important for me,” she added.
Fraser-Pryce has three gold, four silver and one bronze medal over four Olympic Games. The 37-year-old was hoping to add to the tally.