Belgium has pulled out of the Olympic mixed relay triathlon after an athlete who swam in the River Seine fell ill.
Claire Michel “is unfortunately ill and will have to withdraw from the competition,” the Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee said on Sunday.
Michel, 35, was taken to a clinic in the Olympic Village and stayed in the athletes’ accommodation area on Sunday night.
Belgian officials did not elaborate on Michel’s illness but the team’s withdrawal comes after questions about the water quality of the Seine. Michel competed in the women’s triathlon on Wednesday, finishing 38th.
In the run-up to the individual triathlon events last week, concerns prompted organisers to delay the men’s race by a day and cancel the swimming portion of two test runs.
Test swims scheduled for Saturday and Sunday were also cancelled because of bacteria levels in the water.
But organisers confirmed on Sunday night that the mixed relay triathlon would proceed at 8am on Monday after water tests were reviewed.
They added that water quality tests done the day of the individual triathlon races showed “very good” bacteria levels.
The women’s triathlon on Wednesday, with Michel in the number 5 cap. Pic: AP
Daily water quality tests measure levels of faecal bacteria, including E. coli, in the Seine’s waters.
World Triathlon’s water safety guidelines and a 2006 European Union directive assign qualitative values to a range of E. coli levels.
Under World Triathlon’s guidelines, E. coli levels of up to 1,000 colony-forming units per 100 millilitres can be considered “good” and can allow competitions to go forward.
The organisation’s medical committee said it considers water quality analysis, sanitary inspection and the weather forecast when determining whether to go forward with a race.
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How polluted is the River Seine?
Belgium’s Olympic team released a statement saying reports Michel was in hospital for four days were incorrect.
The team also said that it “hopes that lessons will be learned for future triathlon competitions at the Olympic Games”.
It added: “We are thinking here of the guarantee of training days, competition days and the competition format, which must be clarified in advance and ensure that there is no uncertainty for the athletes, entourage and supporters.”
Organisers of the Paris 2024 Games said they wished Ms Michel “a quick recovery and will seek regular updates on their health”.
They added: “Paris 2024 wishes to remind everyone that the health and wellbeing of athletes is our top priority.
“With respect to competitions held in the Seine, water quality tests are carried out daily and the decision on whether to proceed with an event is taken by the International Federation, World Triathlon, in coordination with Paris 2024, and based on the results and a range of criteria.”
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The water quality of the River Seine on 28 July. Pic: Reuters
Illness also hit Swiss and Norwegian teams
Meanwhile, Swiss officials said on Saturday that triathlete Adrien Briffod, who also competed in the Seine on Wednesday, fell ill with a stomach infection.
But they said it was “impossible to say” whether it was linked to the swim and that the other delegations told them none of their triathletes had reported stomach problems.
Simon Westermann, who had been lined up to replace Briffod, also had to withdraw because of a gastrointestinal infection, Swiss officials said in an update on Sunday.
Westermann had not participated in any swims in the Seine, the statement said.
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Norwegian triathlete Vetle Bergsvik Thorn also got sick a day after competing in the men’s triathlon.
Thorn told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that he woke up the next day with an upset stomach and was vomiting but thought that the likely cause was food poisoning.
He said he felt better later that day and was planning on competing again in the mixed relay event.
Marathon swimming events are scheduled to take place in the Seine on Thursday and Friday.
Five of the eight swimmers who competed in the men’s 1,500 metre freestyle on Sunday night were listed to be entered in the 10-kilometre marathon swim.
Bronze medallist Daniel Wiffen from Ireland, who won an earlier gold in the 800-metre freestyle, said he wouldn’t train ahead of time in the Seine, saying: “I don’t want to try to deal with any illness.”
He said he would instead train in pools around Paris, even if it means “going in blind”.
