Olympic team with athlete who ‘saw things they didn’t want to think about’ in River Seine pulls out of event through illness
A nation was forced to pull out of the mixed relay triathlon in the Seine due to the illness of one of its athletes.
The heavily polluted river has been a controversial talking-point as locals were threatening to take a s**t in the water in demonstration prior to the Paris Games.
Even though a whopping £1.18 billion was spent in cleaning up the Seine, athletes have complained about its state.
While Canada’s Tyler Mislawchuk vomited after swimming in the river, Belgian triathlete Jolien Vermeylen, who's been competing at the Paris Olympics, told VTW: "I drank a lot of water, so we’ll know tomorrow if I’m sick or not. It doesn’t taste like Coca-Cola or Sprite, of course.
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"While swimming under the bridge, I felt and saw things that we shouldn’t think about too much.
"The Seine has been dirty for a hundred years, so they can’t say that the safety of the athletes is a priority.
"That’s bulls**t!"
Belgium announced on Sunday (4 August) that it would not be taking part in the mixed relay event on Monday (5 August) after triathlete Claire Michel fell ill.
Michel ended in 38th place in the women’s triathlon competition last week.
Team Belgium said in a statement: "The COIB and Belgian Triathlon must unfortunately announce that the 'Belgian Hammers' will not start the mixed relay of the Paris Olympic Games tomorrow.
"The decision, like this communication, was taken in consultation with the athletes and the entourage.
"Claire Michel, a member of the relay, is unfortunately sick and must withdraw from the competition.
"Member of the COIB and World Triathlon Athletes' Commission, she is committed to continuously evaluating and improving the conditions of athletes.
"The COIB and Belgian Triathlon hope that lessons will be learned for the next triathlon competitions at the Olympic Games.
"We are thinking here of the guarantee of training days, competition days and the format of competitions, which must be clarified in advance and ensure that there is no uncertainty for athletes, the entourage and supporters."
A source from the Belgian team told BBC Sport that Michel has not contracted E. coli.
World Triathlon has insisted that it has undergone appropriate measures to ensure athlete safety is adhered to.
"Paris 2024 and World Triathlon reiterate that their priority is the health of the athletes," the sports governing body said.
As the mixed relay triathlon took place this morning, it was Team GB who won the bronze medal, behind the US in second and Germany who took home the gold.
Anish Vij