Olympics triathlete Jolien Vermeylen rips officials after swimming in polluted Seine River: ‘Felt and saw things that we shouldn’t think about’
Jolien Vermeylen, representing Belgium at this year's Games, said she felt debris in the water during her 1500-meter swim through the iconic French river at the beginning of the Women's Triathlon on Wednesday.
Olympic triathlete Jolien Vermeylen, who represented Belgium at this year's Games, has spoken out about her disgusting experience of swimming in the Seine River during the women's triathlon event. She criticized officials who claimed the polluted river was safe enough for the competition.
Vermeylen described feeling debris in the water and seeing concerning things while swimming under the bridge during her 1,500-meter race. She expressed her frustration about the high levels of pollution in the river, stating that the organizers' claims about prioritizing athletes' safety were untrue.
The Seine has been notorious for its pollution, and despite efforts to improve the water quality, including a $1.5 billion infrastructure project, the river still presented health risks. In the lead-up to the Olympics , training events were canceled, and the men's triathlon was postponed due to water quality concerns.
Jolien Vermeylen, a 30-year-old first-time Olympian, took her own precautions before the race, including taking probiotics and drinking Yakult. However, she still ingested a significant amount of river water, and she awaited potential health consequences. She finished her race in 24th place.
The high levels of E. coli bacteria, often linked to fecal matter and various health risks, were a particular concern. Despite organizers' efforts to improve water quality, they admitted that the readings at some points during the swimming course were still above acceptable limits.
Despite the concerns, the women's triathlon and marathon swimming events proceeded, and France's Cassandre Beaugrand and Britain's Alex Yee took home gold medals in their respective races.
Vermeylen's brave criticism of the organizers and her emphasis on athlete safety shed light on the ongoing challenges of hosting Olympic events in urban environments, especially when it comes to ensuring the well-being of the competitors. Her experience serves as a reminder that the health and safety of athletes must always come first.
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