The men’s Olympic triathlon, initially scheduled for Tuesday, has been postponed due to concerns about water quality in the Seine River in Paris, where the swimming portion of the race was to take place. Organizers aim to reschedule the event for Wednesday, subject to further water tests. The women’s triathlon, also slated for Wednesday, faces similar uncertainties.
Heavy rainfall during the Olympic opening ceremony on Friday and continued showers through the weekend have caused elevated levels of E. coli and other bacteria in the Seine. These conditions led to the cancellation of swim training sessions on Sunday and Monday. The decision to postpone the men’s triathlon was made following an early Tuesday morning meeting involving World Triathlon, its medical team, and city officials.
The men’s triathlon is now planned to start at 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday. However, the high temperature forecast of 95°F (35°C) could pose additional challenges as the event might conclude during the hottest part of the day. Both the men’s and women’s events remain subject to cancellation if water quality does not meet safety standards.
Paris has invested 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion) in efforts to clean the Seine, including building infrastructure to prevent wastewater from contaminating the river. Despite these measures, recent tests have shown fluctuating bacteria levels, with readings slightly above safe thresholds.
Upcoming events in the Seine include the triathlon mixed relay on August 5 and the marathon swimming events on August 8 and 9, all of which will be closely monitored for water quality to ensure athlete safety.
