Belgium has pulled its team out of the Olympic Games triathlon Mixed Relay at Paris 2024 due to illness in the camp.
A statement released by the BOIC ( Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee) and BelgianTriathlon on Sunday evening confirmed that the team will not compete after Claire Michel fell ill.
The news comes four days after Michel competed in the women’s individual race at Paris 2024 (she would eventually finish 38th), but there is no official confirmation about whether her illness is related to the controversy around the water quality in the River Seine. Per organisers, the quality for Wednesday’s races was “very good”.
Asked by TRI247 about Michel’s condition, a Team Belgium spokseperson told us: “We have seen various statements in national and international media with incorrect information.
“Please note that Claire Michel has not been in the hospital for four days. Furthermore, she was not hospitalised prior to today. It is correct that she was taken to the polyclinic in the Olympic Village earlier today for treatment. Meanwhile, she is back in her room in the Olympic Village. As already stated, we do not communicate any further medical details.”
Team Belgium withdrawal
The statement meanwhile regarding the Belgian withdrawal from the Mixed Relay Sunday read: “The BOIC and Belgian Triathlon unfortunately have to announce that the Belgian Hammers will not start in the Mixed Relay competition at the Paris Games tomorrow. This decision, as well as the communication about it, was taken in consultation with the athletes and their entourage.
“Claire Michel, one of the athletes in the mixed relay team, unfortunately has to withdraw from the competition due to illness.
“Claire Michel is a member of both the BOIC and World Triathlon Athlete Commissions. As an athlete representative, she is committed to continuously evaluating and improving conditions for athletes.
“The BOIC and Belgian Triathlon hope that lessons will be learned for future triathlon competitions. We are thinking of training days that can be guaranteed, competition days and formats that are clear in advance and circumstances that do not cause uncertainty among athletes, entourage and fans.”
Mixed Relay will go ahead as planned
The Mixed Relay, scheduled to take part at 0800 local time on Monday, had appeared to be uner threat of postponement due to water quality issues resurfacing in the Seine. Training/familiarisation swims planned for Saturday and Sunday were both cancelled.
However, organisers announced on Sunday evening that the race WILL go ahead as planned. They said they believed water quality levels would be ‘acceptable’.
If the race is postponed it will be delayed 24 hours to Tuesday, but if conditions are not safe to swim on Tuesday then the race will be downgraded to duathlon (run/bike/run) format.
Triathlon’s mid-season report card: Tim Don on who’s raising the bar this triathlon race season
