The drama continues. It becomes monotonous. Like the day before and the day before, the poor quality of the water of the Seine forced the COJO Paris 2024 to disrupt the program of triathlon events.
Sunday and Monday, the poor results of the analyzes carried out in the river led to the cancellation of the “ familiarization » swimming, understand training in the water. Embarrassing. Tuesday July 30, the same causes produced a more unfortunate result. This time, the men's individual event, which was scheduled to start at 8:00 a.m., was postponed.
It is rescheduled the next day, Wednesday July 31, at 10:45 a.m., the same day as the women's competition, which should normally start at 8 a.m. Two sessions in one, therefore. Not ideal, especially in terms of ticketing.
Aurélie Merle, the sports director of the COJO Paris 2024, explained it at a press conference: the water of the Seine was tested at four points of the triathlon swimming course. On one of them, the bacteria level was below World Triathlon standards. Two others showed a level equal to the standards. But the fourth presented a result higher than the limits authorized by the authority.
It was therefore decided, by the COJO and World Triathlon, to postpone the race by one day. Coaches and athletes were notified as soon as the decision was made, around 3:30 a.m. this Tuesday morning.
The following ? The organizers are confident. But they already were these last two days. They assure that the weather, with strong heat following the rain last weekend, will help to reduce the level of bacteria in the Seine. “ We were very close (World Triathlon standards), explained Aurélie Merle. With the improvement in weather conditions, we should be able to launch both races during the day on Wednesday. » The organizers still have one contingency day for a possible further postponement.
Plan B? A triathlon transformed into a duathlon, without swimming, with only cycling and running. “ This would make it possible not to cancel the competition, to distribute the medals and to allow the athletes to race”, suggested Marisol Casado, president of World Triathlon. Such a scenario would not be a first. It was already played last year, at the European Championships in Madrid.
