The Paris Olympics have been overshadowed by health concerns after three German swimmers fell ill following their participation in open water events held in the Seine River. The athletes, who experienced symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, have since recovered, but their illnesses have raised serious questions about the safety of the river, which had been the focus of a massive cleanup operation ahead of the games.
The German Olympic Sports Confederation confirmed on Saturday that three of its athletes became sick after the competition, with two female swimmers treated as outpatients on Friday and a third swimmer still under medical supervision. While the confederation did not release the names, Leonie Beck, who placed ninth in the women’s 10-kilometer race, shared her experience on social media. Beck posted a picture of herself looking ill and sarcastically commented on the water quality in the Seine, suggesting it was the cause of her illness.
The Seine River, once considered too polluted for swimming, was chosen as the venue for the Olympic open water events as part of an effort to showcase the success of environmental cleanup initiatives. However, the illnesses reported by the German swimmers have cast doubt on the safety of the river, despite assurances from Paris organizers and World Aquatics, the governing body for open water swimming, that the water quality met international safety standards.
In response to the reports of illness, the Paris organizing committee issued a statement expressing concern for the athletes but emphasized that there was no direct evidence linking their sickness to the water quality. “Water quality on the day of the marathon was considered ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ across all testing points,” the statement read.
This incident has reignited 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 extensive efforts to clean up the river, 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 Paris Olympics continue, the health and safety of the 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.
