A Belgium swimmer is reportedly sick following a swim in the Seine- but what happened exactly?
Seine River Paris
August 6, 2024– As noted here, Belgium’s Olympic team reportedly had to forfeit the mixed competition triathlon after one of its triathletes, Claire Michel, got sick.
Now, it is unclear what the swimmer is sick with or if the Seine is to blame at all as the Olympic team did not dive into details. However, it was allegedly reported in a Belgium newspaper De Standaard that the triathlete had to be hospitalized and subsequently treated for E. coli this past weekend. This news follows the triathlete’s swim in the Seine River in Paris previously.
Belgium Swimmer Sick
Seine River has been the subject of controversy since it was announced that athletes would be swimming in it as part of the events. This is because the Seine’s water quality has been called into question regarding whether or not it is safe to swim in. AS HOLR previously detailed, both training sessions for the Seine were previously canceled as a result of water contamination. Apparently, E.Coli levels were tested to have been between 3 and 9 times more than allowed. This was a result of rain from the Opening Ceremonies which allegedly flooded the sewage system. However, athletes were allowed to swim in it Wednesday after the water quality was deemed to have improved. As noted in this related article, organizers supposedly said that water quality tests completed the day of the individual triathlon races indicated “very good” bacteria levels.
Seine River Pollution
According to this TikTok video posted by user @realbrittmchenry, Michel has reportedly been in the hospital for the past 4 days after it was alleged she contracted E. coli.
@realbrittmchenry #greenscreen #FYP #Foryou #foryoupage #foryoupage❤️ #swimming #Olympics #Seine #Paris #france #olympians
So, is the Seine to blame?
It is difficult to say as the team has not elaborated on her illness and the reports of E. coli have not yet been confirmed. There is no concrete evidence to support this claim at the moment as further dtials have not yet been revealed. This seems as though its the first incident of its kind related to a triathlete getting sick following the swim in the Seine.
What are your thoughts?
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Published by HOLR Magazine
Image Credit: @realbrittmchenry TikTok