Belgium has been forced to withdraw from the mixed relay triathlon of the Paris Olympics, scheduled for Monday, after one of its athletes who swam in the River Seine fell ill.
The Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee (COIB) confirmed on Sunday evening that athlete Claire Michel was unwell. Certain media reports suggest the Brussels native contracted a bacterial infection following her participation in the women’s triathlon, where she finished in 38th place on Wednesday.
COIB clarified that Michel had not been hospitalised, with some reports suggesting she had been under supervision for four days. "The decision, as was this communication, was made in consultation with the athletes and their teams. She was taken to the polyclinic in the Olympic village on Sunday and was able to return to her room."
Organisers claimed the levels of bacteria in the River Seine were safe for athletes, but the COIB did not specify what type of illness Michel contracted.
Following the ongoing controversy surrounding the River Seine's suitability for sporting competitions, this could prove to be a major setback for Olympic authorities. Before the Olympics, swimming in the Seine for over 100 years was illegal.
The stormy weather Paris has been experiencing has severely impacted the water quality, with the city's antiquated sewer system often overflowing and leaking untreated sewage into the river — which increases the rates of E. coli bacteria.
Belgian Claire Michel pictured in action during the running part of the women's individual triathlon race at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, on Wednesday 31 July 2024 in Paris, France. Credit: Belga / Jasper Jacobs
COIB and Belgian Triathlon stated that they hoped lessons would be learned from this incident for future triathlon competitions. "We are thinking here of the guarantee of training days, competition days and the competition format, which must be clarified in advance and ensure that there is no uncertainty for the athletes, entourage and supporters."
The Belgian Hammers, comprising Claire Michel, Jolien Vermeylen, Marten Van Riel and Jelle Geens, were set to compete on Monday.
Training scheduled for Sunday in the Seine for the event was cancelled due to storms upstream of the river and over Paris “on the night of 31st July to 1st August,” according to the event organisers and the International Triathlon Federation.
Belgian triathlete Marten Van Riel was incensed last week after the postponement of men's individual triathlon, stating that if the priority was the health of the athletes, "this event would have been moved to another location a long time ago."
