Athletes Outraged Over Polluted Seine in Paris Triathlon

Olympic athletes competing in the 2024 Paris triathlon have expressed outrage over being forced to swim in the heavily polluted Seine River. Despite a $1.5 billion effort to clean the river, high levels of E. coli and other bacteria remained a significant health risk. Canadian triathlete Tyler Mislawchuk vomited 10 times post-race, citing heat as a factor, while Belgian triathlete Jolien Vermeylen criticized the organizers for prioritizing the event over athlete safety. Vermeylen's remarks were widely reported, though she later clarified that her comments were mistranslated and meant to be humorous. Both men's and women's races faced delays due to water quality concerns, raising questions about the adequacy of safety measures taken by Olympic officials.