Fans React as Olympics Triathlon Takes to the Seine River Days After Water Quality Concerns
Fans tuning in for the Paris Olympics questioned the decision to allow the swimmers to go in the Seine for the triathlon only days after practice was canceled due to water quality concerns.
On Wednesday, July 31, Olympic athletes boldly dove into the river for their events, leading fans at home to share their thoughts. While the water was cleared as safe in the early morning, fans weren't convinced.
Olympians swim in the Seine for the first time since the 1900 #ParisOlympics! ?? pic.twitter.com/Q8RjVkVmMJ
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 31, 2024
"You couldn’t pay me to get in that water," wrote one viewer, while more reacted, "Hope they don’t get weird mutations," and "these participants should get a medal for just surviving."
Another joked, "Is it an unfair advantage when they sprout extra arms mid-race?" while a similar comment read, "Oh they all gone [sic] come out the water as X-men."
In reaction to a video of the triathlon on Instagram, an earnestly worried fan commented, "Having athletes swim in the Seine is absolutely ridiculous. This water is disgusting. Really hope no one gets sick from this."
Some also joked about a fictional concern after watching a recent horror movie in which a shark took over the Seine, with one writing, "All I can think about is that movie with the sharks in that water called Under Paris ??."
Early Olympic training in the Seine was canceled after the heavy rainfall at the start of the games led to elevated levels of E. coli bacteria.
Even the athletes joked about the water quality, with Cassandre Beaugrand of France saying, via Today, "I have no doubts about the quality of the Seine, we’ve swum in worse water."
Jamie Riddle of South Africa joked, “I’m definitely going to be visiting the bathroom later, I swallowed gallons and gallons of water, so that’s gonna be a fun post-race party."
France put a lot of work into making the Seine healthy enough for the Olympic games after 100 years of no swimming in the river due to water quality, via BBC. Other Olympic swimming events took place at La Défense Arena's Olympic swimming pool.
