Sweden’s Victor Johansson has decided to withdraw from the Olympic men’s 10-kilometer event in Paris due to concerns about the water quality of the Seine River. Johansson mentioned that he got sick after swimming in the river during the Olympic competition, as reported by Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter. He expressed that swimming in the river did not feel right from the beginning, and he believes that others have also fallen ill.
This decision by Johansson adds to the list of athletes who have withdrawn from competition in Paris due to worries about the river’s water quality. Earlier, Belgium’s Claire Michel withdrew from the triathlon mixed relay due to feeling unwell. However, she later clarified that it was a virus and not E. coli bacteria, which is known to be a significant risk of swimming in the Seine.
Reports indicate that the water quality of the Seine River has been fluctuating during the Paris Olympics, affecting various events. For instance, test swims before the triathlon events had to be canceled due to high bacteria levels, resulting in the postponement of the men’s triathlon. Belgium’s Jolien Vermeylen also mentioned feeling debris in the water during her 1500-meter swim in the river at the start of the women’s triathlon.
Despite significant investments in upgrading the city’s sewer systems for the Olympics, with around $1.5 billion allocated for this purpose, concerns about the river’s cleanliness persist. The aim was to ensure that the historically polluted and bacteria-filled river would be safe for residents and athletes to swim in during the games.
The World Triathlon guidelines suggest that E. coli levels of up to 1,000 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters can be considered acceptable for competition to proceed. As a precautionary measure, daily water tests are being conducted on the Seine during the Olympics to monitor the situation closely.
Victor Johansson, a 25-year-old first-time Olympian from Sweden, had previously achieved success by winning gold in the men’s 1500-meter freestyle event at the 2019 Summer Universiade in Naples, Italy. His decision to withdraw from the 10-kilometer event underscores the challenges faced by athletes competing in water sports during the Paris Olympics.
As concerns about the water quality of the Seine River continue to impact Olympic events, the health and safety of athletes remain a top priority for organizers. The experiences shared by Johansson and other competitors highlight the importance of ensuring clean and safe environments for athletes to perform at their best during international competitions.