Swedish swimmer in Seine

Swedish marathon swimmer Victor Johansson has withdrawn from the Olympic men's 10km event due to concerns about water quality in the Seine River, citing illnesses among triathletes who swam in the river during the competition. Johansson expressed that despite assurances from Paris 2024 organizers and World Aquatics regarding acceptable E. coli levels, he felt uncomfortable competing after hearing reports of other athletes falling sick. The Swedish Olympic Committee's medical team supported his decision, stressing health as the top priority. Previous incidents included Belgian athletes withdrawing from the triathlon mixed relay and reports of Swedish triathlete Tilda Mansson experiencing illness shortly after swimming. While Johansson's withdrawal underscores health concerns, World Aquatics maintains that the water quality is regularly monitored and deemed acceptable for competition. The upcoming men's marathon swim will only proceed after further analysis of water quality readings.