Belgium Pulls Out of Swimming Event After Athlete Reportedly Contracts E Coli
Belgium has pulled out of the 2024 Paris Olympics mixed relay triathlon at Paris 2024 after Claire Michel fell ill.
The 35-year-old athlete competed in the women’s triathlon days ago and came in 38th place. De Standaard reports that she contracted E coli, via BBC News.
The poor water quality of the Seine was a major issue discussed before and during the Olympics, and the cause of the men’s triathlon to be delayed by a day. The practice swim for the mixed relay was also postponed on Sunday (August 4) for the second day in a row. The mixed relay race is due to take place on Monday morning (August 5).
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The Belgian Oympic Committee (COIB) did not reveal what illness she was suffering from, but that the decision not to participate was taken “in consultation with the athletes and the entourage,” adding it hopes “that lessons will be learned for future triathlon competitions.”
Tests were being carried out daily on the water quality in the Seine, where more competitions are still being held later in the week.
Swimming in the river had been banned for over 100 years because of high levels of pollution and the risk of disease A reported £1.2 billion had been spent on a regeneration project to make the Seine safe for swimming.
Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo recently swam in the river to showcase that the river was safe.
However, heavy rain in Paris on the first days of the Olympics caused the water quality to decline.