The safety of the Seine River as a venue for Olympic events has come under scrutiny after three German swimmers fell ill following their participation in the open water races at the Paris Olympics. The athletes, who experienced symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea, have since recovered, but their illnesses have reignited concerns about the water quality in the iconic but historically polluted river.
The German Olympic Sports Confederation confirmed on Saturday that three of its swimmers became ill after the competition. Two female swimmers were treated for their symptoms as outpatients on Friday, while a third swimmer was still receiving medical care from the German team doctors. Although the statement did not disclose the identities of the affected athletes, Leonie Beck, who finished ninth in the 10-kilometer race, took to Instagram to share her experience, humorously but pointedly remarking on the water quality. “Vomited 9 times yesterday + diarrhea,” she wrote, adding sarcastically, “Water quality in the Seine is approved.”
The other German woman who competed in the race was Leonie Maertens, who finished 22nd. The men’s open water event saw two German competitors, silver medalist Oliver Klemet and Florian Wellbrock, who finished eighth. It was not specified which of the male swimmers was affected by the illness.
The Seine River, which had been banned for swimming for over 100 years due to pollution, underwent a major cleanup effort in preparation for the Olympics. Paris organizers and World Aquatics released testing data that indicated the water was within the safe limits for competition, with E. coli levels and other bacteria well under the thresholds established by the governing body. A contingency plan was in place to move the marathon swimming events to an alternate location if water quality did not meet the required standards.
Despite these precautions, the illnesses among the German athletes have raised doubts about the effectiveness of the cleanup and the decision to hold swimming events in the Seine. The Paris organizing committee acknowledged the reports of the athletes’ sickness but maintained that water quality on the day of the race was rated as “very good” or “excellent” across all testing points.
Concerns over the Seine’s water quality were previously highlighted when some triathletes fell ill after their events, although no direct link to the river was established. The incident has led to renewed scrutiny of the health risks associated with open water swimming in the Seine, despite assurances from officials that the water quality is safe.
As the Olympic Games continue, the situation has cast a shadow over the use of the Seine River as a venue, with both athletes and observers questioning whether the water was truly safe. The Paris organizers have pledged to continue monitoring water quality closely, but the incident underscores the challenges of ensuring athlete safety in open water events.
