Search
shop

Olympic Games Triathlon: Latest River Seine water quality update reveals what Paris 2024 needs to stage open water swims

Paris 2024 appears to be in a race against time and betting on the weather to stage the triathlon swims in the River Seine next month.
Editor-In-Chief
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Paris 2024 appears to be in a race against time and betting on “summer weather” as it bids to stage the planned Olympic Games triathlon swims in the River Seine next month.

Despite a €1.4bn (£1.18bn or $1.5bn) cleanup operation to make the iconic Paris waterway swimmable for the first time in a century, right now the water quality is not up to a sufficient standard to allow that.

Late last week, the results of recent tests on the water (carried out on June 16) showed the presence of two kinds of fecal bacteria, including E. coli. The results showed the levels of E. coli were too high to allow swimming at four different locations on the river.

World Triathlon responded by saying it has “great confidence” that the swims for the individual triathlon events on July 30 and 31, and the Mixed Relay on August 5, will all be able to take place as planned.

Advertisement

Paris bets on summer to save the swims

The latest update came on Wednesday (June 26), two days after a planned rehearsal of the opening ceremony – to be held in boats on the Seine – had to be postponed.

Marc Guillaume, prefect of the Île-de-France region, again referenced the heavy rains which have severely hampered the bid to make the water swimmable so far, and admitted that “summer weather” is required to improve water quality.

Guillaume told franceinfo that “the flow has dropped significantly since this weekend, and in July it will be a summer flow”, providing confidence that the opening ceremony will go ahead as planned in the Seine on July 26.

He revealed though that “to date, the conditions are not met for swimming in the Seine”, adding that despite all that massive investment “it is not enough if the weather is autumn or winter”.

Guillaume went on to admit: “The Seine will not be ‘bathable’ in a few days. We need summer atmospheric conditions to reach us”.

Olympic Games Triathlon Paris Test Event August 2023
Triathletes swim in the River Seine during the Olympic Games Test Event in Paris in August 2023 (Photo – World Triathlon).

Contingency plans

Of course there are contingency plans in place for the triathlon at Paris 2024, should water quality be an issue during the Games. But they do not completely rule out the looming spectre of the dreaded duathlon.

There are reserve days in place for all of the events, but if they were also to be affected by poor water quality, the race format would then be altered to an Olympic distance duathlon consisting of a 5km run, 40km bike and 10km run.

The Mixed Relay at last year’s Paris Test Event was reduced to a duathlon due to sub-standard water quality, with a similar story at World Triathlon Para Cup Paris.

Graham Shaw
Written by
Graham Shaw
Graham has been involved with TRI247 & RUN247 since the summer of 2021. Since then he has provided strategic direction for all news and is passionate about the growth of triathlon as a fan sport.
Discover more
TRI247 podcast p/b Challenge Family episode 2
Go behind the scenes at Challenge Roth with the latest episode of the TRI247 podcast
Cadomotus Chronos triathlon cycling shoes
The triathlon cycling shoe that promises a 10-watt saving: Cadomotus Chronos Aero triathlon cycling shoes review
Challenge Family Roth
Five things you need to know about the Challenge Roth bike course
Challenge St. Pölten 2024 - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
Expert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
TRI-FIT VANGUARD tri suit review
The entry-level tri suit with a serious amount of performance for the price point – TRI-FIT VANGUARD review
latest News
Alex Yee thumbs up Paris Olympics 2024 photo credit world triathlon
Superstar Brit Alex Yee launches his own triathlon to inspire next generation into the sport
Lisa Tertsch Cassandre Beaugrand Beth Potter Hamburg WTCS 2024 Photo credit: Tommy Zaferes / World Triathlon
WTCS Hamburg 2025: Start time, preview and how to watch live
IRONMAN CEO Scott DeRue Women For Tri 2024
‘The more co-operation the better’ – Challenge Roth chief welcomes IRONMAN CEO’s visit
joe-skipper-kona-2022-bike
Joe Skipper says his Challenge Roth experience proves just how high the bar now is in triathlon
Anne Haug wins Challenge Roth 2024 [Photo credit: Simon Fischer | Challenge Roth]
Anne Haug on inspiration ahead of comeback, sub-eight and no intention of retiring just yet
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...