The triathlon at the Paris 2024 Olympics could be transformed into a duathlon if the water quality in the River Seine does not improve, confirmed event organisers.
The men’s triathlon was due to take place today but has been postponed until Wednesday due to the pollution levels in the Seine making it unsafe for the swimming leg of the event.
The men’s and women’s events are currently due to take place on Wednesday, while there is a contingency day on Friday, but the water quality must improve to an acceptable level for swimming to be held.
A World Triathlon statement on Tuesday morning on the postponement of the men’s triathlon read: ‘Following a meeting on water quality held on 30 July at 3.30am attended by Paris 2024, representatives of World Triathlon and their Technical and Medical Delegates, the International Olympic Committee, Météo France, the City of Paris and the Prefecture of the Île-de-France Region involved in carrying out water quality tests, Paris 2024 and World Triathlon has decided to postpone the men’s triathlon event which was due to be held on 30 July at 8am.
‘Considering the latest weather information, it has been decided to schedule the men’s triathlon event on 31 July at 10h45. The women’s triathlon is due to take place the same day at 8am. Both triathlons are subject to the forthcoming water tests complying with the established World Triathlon thresholds for swimming. A contingency day remains in place for 2 August.
‘Paris 2024 and World Triathlon reiterate that their priority is the health of the athletes. The tests carried out in the Seine today revealed water quality levels that did not provide sufficient guarantees to allow the event to be held.
Paris authorities have promised to make the Seine swimmable as a key legacy of the Games, and spent 1.4 billion euros on wastewater infrastructure to contain sewage and minimise spillage into the waterway.
Triathlon has been involved in the Summer Olympics since 2000 in Sydney, with Team GB enjoying great success in the event since then, claiming a gold in the mixed relay and silver in both the men’s and women’s individual in Tokyo thanks to Alex Yee and Georgia Taylor-Brown.