The Olympic triathlon events in Paris have officially begun after days of uncertainty due to water quality concerns in the Seine River. The women’s event started at 8:00 AM (6:00 GMT) on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, near the Pont Alexandre III, with 55 athletes from 34 countries participating. The men’s event, initially postponed from Tuesday, is scheduled to follow at 10:45 AM (8:45 GMT).The decision to proceed with the events came after a night of suspense, with the final water quality tests conducted at 3:20 AM showing acceptable levels of bacteria. Benjamin Maze, technical director for France’s triathlon federation, expressed relief, stating, ‘It is with great joy that we received this news’. The improvement in water quality has been attributed to better weather conditions between Sunday and Tuesday.In the women’s event, defending champion Flora Duffy from Bermuda won the swimming portion, followed by Bianca Serenini from Italy (+9 seconds) and Vittoria Lopez from Brazil (+13 seconds). Other notable participants include French athletes Cassandre Beaugrand and Emma Lombardi, who are aiming for France’s first medal in the discipline.The triathlon consists of a 1,500-meter swim in the Seine, followed by 40 km of cycling and 10 km of running. Athletes faced additional challenges due to rain showers and the Seine’s strong currents.This event marks a significant milestone for Paris, which has invested 1.4 billion euros in cleaning up the Seine and its main tributary, the Marne, in preparation for the Olympics and future public use. The successful start of the triathlon events is seen as a testament to these efforts, although some athletes had expressed concerns about the decision-making process.
Key points
- Olympic triathlon events in Paris have begun after water quality in the Seine River was deemed acceptable.
- 55 athletes from 34 countries are participating in the women’s event, with Flora Duffy from Bermuda winning the swimming portion.
- The event marks a milestone for Paris’s 1.
4 billion euro investment in cleaning up the Seine.
Contradictions👾While most sources report a positive sentiment about the event proceeding, some athletes had expressed anger over the decision-making process, with Belgium’s Marten Van Riel criticizing the handling of the situation.
