A demonstration race to familiarize Olympic athletes with the marathon swimming course on the Seine River was canceled on Tuesday due to concerns about the quality of the Paris waterway.
World Aquatics decided to cancel the event at an early morning meeting, spokesman Torin Koos said. Fluctuations in bacteria levels in the long-contaminated waterway have been a constant concern throughout the Games, which will see both the triathlon and marathon swimming events held in the river.
Competitors dive into the water to compete in the mixed relay triathlon swimming event in the Seine River at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024.
Martin Bureau/Pool photo courtesy AP
Another marathon swim test event is scheduled for Wednesday, and organizers will decide early that morning whether to go ahead with the event, Koos said. The women’s marathon swim is scheduled for Thursday, while the men will race on Friday.
The cancellation of Tuesday’s marathon swim trials comes a day after a mixed triathlon relay race was held on a river that runs through the heart of the French capital. World Triathlon released data on Tuesday showing that levels of E. coli and Enterococcus coli were within acceptable levels for the length of a triathlon relay course when triathletes swam on Monday.
Both the triathlon and marathon swims start and finish at Pont Alexandre III, but the marathon swim course extends further along the river. Marathon swimmers cover a total of 10 km (6.2 miles) on the course.
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