The Belgian Olympic Committee announced its decision to withdraw from the mixed relay triathlon at the Paris Olympics, on Sunday, following the forced exit of athlete Claire Michel from the women’s triathlon on Wednesday due to illness.
Although the committee’s statement did not specify the nature of Michel’s illness, it has raised concerns about the water quality of the River Seine, in which the triathlon’s swimming event was held.
“It was confirmed that she is infected with E. coli bacteria, which can lead to gastrointestinal problems. The contamination may be linked to the polluted Seine,” Belgian media subsequently reported.
The organizers had previously confirmed when concerns were first being raised that water quality tests conducted on the day of the individual triathlon races had indicated satisfactory bacteria levels.
Despite Michel’s illness, the Paris 2024 organizers confirmed that the mixed relay triathlon would go ahead as planned on Monday at 8 a.m., with the swimming event still scheduled in the Seine.
A group of representatives from the World Triathlon, the International Olympic Committee, the Paris Games organizers, and local authorities conducted a review of water tests on Sunday and found that “the water quality had improved and met the event’s standards,” according to international media reports.