The Paris Olympics have faced renewed scrutiny after three German swimmers fell ill following their participation in the open water events held in the Seine River. The athletes, who experienced symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, have since recovered, but the incident has raised serious questions about the safety of the water, despite assurances from officials.
The German Olympic Sports Confederation announced on Saturday that three of its athletes became sick after the competition, with two treated as outpatients on Friday and a third swimmer still under medical supervision. Although the federation did not release the names, Leonie Beck, who placed ninth in the women’s 10-kilometer race, took to Instagram to share her ordeal. Posting a picture of herself looking ill, Beck revealed that she had vomited nine times and sarcastically commented on the Seine’s water quality, implying it was the cause of her illness.
The Seine River, historically known for its pollution, underwent a significant cleanup ahead of the Olympics, with Paris organizers and World Aquatics, the governing body for open water swimming, insisting that the water met safety standards. However, the illnesses reported by the German athletes have cast doubt on these assurances.
In response to the situation, the Paris organizing committee expressed concern for the affected swimmers but emphasized that there was no confirmed link between the water quality and their illnesses. “Water quality on the day of the race was considered ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ at all testing points,” the committee stated.
The incident has sparked renewed 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 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.
