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Paris 2024: Triathlon familiarisation swim cancelled due to poor water quality

The familiarisation swim for the Olympic Games triathlon events has been cancelled after heavy rain on Friday affected the water quality in the Seine

Helen Webster
Boat with Team GB on board in the rain at Paris 2024 opening ceremony
Team GB on a boat on the Seine during heavy rain at the Paris 2204 opening ceremony Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

It has been announced that the triathlon familiarisation swim at the Olympic Games has been cancelled.

The swim was due to go ahead today (Sunday 28 July) at 7am BST. But after heavy rainfall on Friday, quality has been affected and the water in the Seine has not met the required standard.

A joint statement from Paris 2024 and World Triathlon gave more detail. “The priority is the health of the athletes,” they said.

“The tests carried out in the Seine revealed water quality levels that in the view of the international federation, World Triathlon, did not provide sufficient guarantees to allow the event to be held.”

The hope is that the water will have improved by the start of the actual triathlon events on Tuesday 30 July.

The women's Paris Olympics triathlon text event gets underway in Paris, France, 2023
Water quality in the Seine is still a big concern ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. (Credit: Tommy Zaferes/World Triathlon)

“Given the weather forecast for the next 48 hours,” the statement continue, “Paris 2024 and World Triathlon are confident that water quality will return to below limits before the start for of the triathlon competitions.”

The cycling and running familiarisation will go ahead today as planned.

Possible changes to Paris 2024 triathlons

If the water does not meet the required standard by the days of the events, there are a couple of plans that could be put into action. One option is to make the triathlons a duathlon format, replacing the swim with a run to start the race.

In this case athletes will follow a run/bike/run format which will favour stronger runners, but to the detriment of athletes who were counting on a strong swim discipline to give them the advantage.

Another option would be to delay the triathlons and move the start to Vaires-sur-Marne, east of Paris, which is a facility usually used for water sports such as rowing.

View from Alexandre III bridge of the individual women's swim start at the Paris Olympics Triathlon Test Event in 2023
The individual women’s triathlon race gets underway at the Paris Olympics Test Event, 17 August 2023. (Credit: Wagner Araujo/World Triathlon)

You can read more about how water quality has been a concern throughout the planning of the triathlon events in our article on whether the swims will go ahead.

Read more about how to watch the Paris 2024 triathlon events here.

The only other events which could be affected by poor water quality in the Seine are the marathon (10km) swimming events which are scheduled to take place later in the Games on Thursday 8th and Friday 9th August. Find out more about these events here.

Profile image of Helen Webster Helen Webster Editor, 220 Triathlon

About

Helen has been 220's Editor since July 2013, when she made the switch from marathons to multisport. She's usually found open-water swimming and has competed in several swimruns as well as the ÖtillÖ World Series. Helen is a qualified Level 2 Open-Water Swim Coach focusing on open-water confidence and runs regular workshops at the South West Maritime Academy near Bristol. She is also an RLSS UK Open Water Lifeguard trainer/assessor.