Olympic triathlete shares disturbing ways he's been preparing for controversial triathlon race
One US athlete has shared the grim way he's been preparing for the upcoming triathlon race at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Usually one of the less popular sports, the triathlon has become one of the most talked about events of the games for all the wrong reasons after organisers decided to have athletes swim in the Seine for part of the gruelling race.
The decision to include Paris' iconic river in the games may be a touching nod to the city, but the practicality of making the idea a reality has proved to be a difficult one.
City officials have desperately been trying to reduce the pollution levels in the river - where swimming has been banned since 1923 - but they have, so far, been unable to make the river safe for swimming.
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Fears of yet another Olympic fiasco were only increased today (30 July) when the men's triathlon was postponed due to dangerous levels of pollution, with Triathlon president Marisol Casado telling BBC Sport that there was only a 60 percent chance of the rescheduled event taking place tomorrow.
While organisers haver been left scratching their heads over how to make sure all three legs of the event can take place, athletes have been busy adapting their training regimes - and some of them are pretty grubby.
Sharing his training methods in an interview with The Athletic, US triathlete Seth Rider revealed he has forgone washing his hands after visiting the bathroom in order to prepare his body for the increased E. coli levels in the river.
Not washing your hands after going to the loo obviously sounds like a pretty gross thing to do, however, Rider insists that his method are backed up by scientific research.
"We know that there’s going to be some E. coli exposure, so I just try to increase my E. coli threshold by exposing myself to a bit of E. coli in your day-to-day life," he explained.
"It’s actually backed by science. Proven methods. Just little things throughout your day, like not washing your hands after you go to the bathroom."
Note to self, if you ever meet Seth Rider do not under any circumstances shake his hand.
E. coli exposure from swimming in the Seine has long been a concern for Olympic organisers, with regular tests of the Seine's water quality being carried out in the days leading up to the games.
According to the World Triathlon Federation, E. coli levels beyond 900 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters are unsafe, with the decision to postpone coming after days of heavy rainfall in the city.
Should the triathlon be postponed again tomorrow organisers will then be left with two options - hold the event on Friday (2 August) or drop the swimming leg and turn it into a duathlon.
Although something tells us that Rider is probably hoping his grimy training regime isn't all in vain.
Brenna Cooper