Athlete Tyler Mislawchuk vomited live on television after finishing the triathlon event on July 31, which included a 1.5 km swim in the Seine River, a 40 km bike ride, and a 10 km run.
“I don’t regret vomiting 10 times. I didn’t come here to finish in the top 10, but I gave it my all,” Mislawchuk said after the race.
Athlete Tyler Mislawchuk vomiting live on air.
Mislawchuk completed the race in 1 hour, 39 minutes, and 41 seconds, securing 9th place—a better result than his 15th place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
This Canadian athlete was not the only one exhausted after the race. Many athletes were seen lying down after finishing. The triathlon has long been known for its grueling nature, but the subject has gained more attention ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics due to concerns about the pollution levels in the Seine River and warnings about temperatures in Paris during the Olympic events.
Triathlon athletes swimming through the Seine River at the Paris Olympics. (Photo: The Globe and Mail).
Water Quality of the Seine River
Studies indicate that issues such as diarrhea and vomiting among athletes are often linked to water quality.
Recent testing results shared by the technology company Fluidion with CNN show that the Seine River remains unsafe for swimming according to standards set by World Triathlon, due to high levels of E. Coli bacteria in the water, posing serious health risks to athletes.
Fluidion’s tests revealed that, on average, the E. Coli levels in the Seine River from early April to late May were above 3400 MPN/100 mL. According to CNN, this figure is more than three times the standard for water to be classified as “good” by World Triathlon.
“We’ve experienced a few months of heavy rainfall, causing numerous combined sewer overflows in Paris and upstream,” said Dan Angelescu, CEO of Fluidion. He added that these incidents have clearly impacted water quality, with “a significant increase in bacteria following storms.”
The city of Paris has invested at least 1.4 billion euros (1.55 billion USD) to clean the Seine River. (Photo: The New York Times).
According to the regulations of the World Triathlon, if the E. Coli levels remain this high, the swimming segment of the triathlon will have to be canceled unless the medical committee of the organization determines that the race can proceed.
The city of Paris has invested at least 1.4 billion euros (1.55 billion USD) to clean the Seine River. In May, a rainwater storage facility was opened, capable of holding an amount of water equivalent to 20 Olympic swimming pools, to relieve pressure on the sewage system and reduce the risk of wastewater being discharged into the Seine, according to a statement from Olympic Paris 2024.
The organizers of the Olympic Paris 2024 stated that they remain “very confident” in their ability to improve the water quality in Paris to meet “necessary standards” in time for the Games.
“Overall, the water quality in the Seine continues to improve every day. By the time of the Olympics, bacterial pollution in the Seine will be reduced by 75% thanks to various measures implemented by our partners,” the organizers stated in a release in early June.
In August 2023, at least 57 athletes suffered from diarrhea and vomiting after swimming off Roker Beach during the British leg of the World Triathlon Championship.
Routine tests conducted by the Environment Agency at Roker in late July, just days before the event, detected high levels of E. Coli bacteria in the water. However, British Triathlon, the governing body for triathlon competitions in the UK, asserted that these tests were conducted outside the waters used for the event.
One participant, Australian triathlete Jake Birtwhistle, shared on Instagram that he “felt quite unwell since the race.” “The swim competition should have been canceled,” he said.
Heat and Exhaustion
The triathlon event at the Paris 2024 Olympics was scheduled for July 30 but was postponed due to the poor water quality of the Seine River. Organizers emphasized that the health of the athletes was “the top priority.”
The following day, the men’s competition took place in the afternoon, while the women’s event was held in the morning. As the male athletes crossed the finish line, temperatures had risen to about 30 degrees Celsius in the French capital, alongside poor air quality, according to Toronto Sun.
Paris faced extreme heat as the world recently recorded its hottest day in history. Experts say we are now in a “truly uncharted territory” as the Earth continues to warm.
The French city is also particularly vulnerable to high temperatures and has the highest risk of heat-related fatalities in Europe, according to a 2023 study.
However, even on pleasant days, athletes struggle significantly in triathlon events.
Kristian Blummenfelt collapsing after finishing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. (Photo: PA).
At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Norwegian athlete Kristian Blummenfelt also vomited and collapsed after winning the gold medal in triathlon. He was so exhausted that he had to be pushed in a wheelchair after the competition.
A review article published in 2019 in Current Sports Medicine Reports identified several reasons why triathletes are prone to health issues, with the outdoor swimming segment considered the riskiest.
First, there is a correlation between the increased risk of mortality and swimming in cold waters. Outdoor swimmers also face risks from rough waves, strong currents, or marine animals like jellyfish and sharks…
