The Paris Olympics have been overshadowed by health concerns after three German swimmers fell ill following their participation in the open water events held in the Seine River. The athletes experienced symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea, leading to renewed fears about the safety of swimming in the historically polluted river.
The German Olympic Sports Confederation confirmed that three of its athletes were affected, with two female swimmers receiving outpatient treatment on Friday and another swimmer still under medical supervision. While the identities of the swimmers were not officially released, Leonie Beck, who placed ninth in the women’s 10-kilometer race, shared her experience on Instagram. Posting a photo of herself looking visibly unwell, Beck revealed she had vomited nine times and sarcastically commented on the water quality, saying it had been “approved” with a check mark emoji.
The Seine River, which flows through the heart of Paris, has been the subject of a major cleanup operation in preparation for the Olympics. Swimming in the river had been banned for over a century due to high levels of bacteria and pollution. Despite extensive efforts to improve the water quality, the illnesses reported by the German swimmers have cast doubt on the success of these measures.
Paris organizers and World Aquatics, the governing body for open water swimming, released data indicating that the water quality on the day of the race was within safe limits. However, the fact that several athletes fell ill has raised questions about whether those standards were sufficient.
The Paris organizing committee issued a statement expressing concern for the affected athletes and wishing them a speedy recovery. However, they emphasized that there was no confirmed link between the illnesses and the water quality in the Seine. “The water quality on the day of the marathon was considered ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ across all four testing points,” the statement said.
This incident is not the first time concerns have been raised about the Seine as a venue for Olympic events. Earlier in the games, several triathletes also reported falling ill after competing in the river, though no direct connection to the water was established. The controversy surrounding the use of the Seine underscores the challenges faced by organizers in balancing the historical significance of the location with the need to ensure athlete safety.
As the Olympics continue, the focus remains on the health and well-being of the athletes. The German swimmers affected by the illness are expected to recover fully and return home as planned, but the incident has sparked a broader debate about the risks associated with open water swimming in urban rivers like the Seine.
