Will the Olympic triathlon go ahead? Latest updates, E. coli status ahead of swim leg

2024-07-31
4 min read
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The triathlon events at the Olympics have been a popular addition to the Games since its introduction in 2000.

Combining swimming, long distance running and cycling, some of the most talented athletes in the world will be showcasing their all-round abilities as they fight for a gold medal.

The event is once again slated to take place at the Paris Olympics, with three seperate events scheduled, however they are now in doubt due to the poor water quality of the River Seine.

The Sporting News looks at whether the triathlon will take place at the Paris Olympics.

MORE: Updated medal tally for all countries

What is the status of the 2024 Olympics triathlon?

The men's triathlon event will take place this morning local time, with officials announcing water levels were safe enough for competitors to swim in the River Seine.

This comes after the race was postponed yesterday on July 30th.

"Unfortunately, meteorological events beyond our control, such as the rain which fell over Paris on 26 and 27 July, can alter water quality and compel us to reschedule the event for health reasons," the World Triathlon statement said.

"Despite the improvement of water quality levels over the last hours, the readings at some points of the swim course are still above the acceptable limits."

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The race was scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. local time in Paris, but there are contingency plans in place.

MORE: Why is the River Seine so dirty? | River Seine poop protests

Why is the Olympics triathlon in doubt? River Seine E. coli problem

There have been significant concerns for an extended period of time on the water quality in the River Seine, which is known to have higher levels of E. coli.

Swimming in the river has been banned for more than a century, but in preparation for the Games, the city of Paris spent a reported 1.5 billion Euros on cleaning up the river and improving its water quality.

The mayor of Paris last month was pictured swimming in the river in an attempt to prove it was safe to do so.

Before last weekend, it appeared the measures had been successful, but rain over the Saturday and Sunday meant the pollution levels in the river increased, resulting in practice for the swimming leg being cancelled.

2024 Olympics triathlon events, schedule

There are three events at this year's triathlon at the Olympics.

The men's and women's events are currently scheduled to be held in back-to-back days on Tuesday July 30 and Wednesday July 31, though this could change depending on the water quality tests.

There is a relatively new event introduced at the Tokyo Games called the 'mixed relay' will take place on August 5.

All events are scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. local time in Paris.