Open water swimming training was cancelled on Tuesday due to water quality in the River Seine, two days before the women’s race at the 2024 Paris Olympics, which includes Portugal’s Angelique Andre.
World Aquatics, the international swimming federation, made the decision to cancel the events at a meeting on Tuesday, Paris2024 reported.
The decision was taken after one of four Seine water samples collected on Monday did not meet standards for the presence of bacteria found in human excrement, the organisation admitted.
However, the statement highlighted the improvement in water quality in the river compared to samples collected on Sunday.
The Paris2024 organisation said it would decide this morning whether another training session planned for Wednesday would go ahead.
The conditions of the River Seine were a constant headache for the organisation and the athletes, even causing the cancellation of triathlon swimming training and the postponement of the men’s competition for a day.
The Belgian mixed relay failed to complete the race after athlete Claire Michel fell ill after contracting E.coli bacteria during the women’s individual race, Belgian media reported.
The women’s open water swimming competition, featuring Portugal’s Angelique Andre, is scheduled for August 8, while the men’s competition is scheduled for August 9.
On Sunday, before leaving for Paris, a woman from Mato Grosso admitted that water quality was “of course always a concern.”
“We could get sick. Let’s hope nothing happens. Everything is under their control. There is always a plan B, C and D. If it is not on the Seine on Thursday, it will be on Sunday at the canoeing site. Conscience, enjoy. We have worked hard for this moment to be the best we can be,” concluded Angelique Andre.
The 29-year-old swimmer said she was focused on improving on her 17th place finish after her Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020.
“The expectation is to try to do better than in Tokyo, this is what I have been working for, I wanted to fight and continue. In these three years I have already achieved many achievements and won medals in important international competitions,” said Angelique Andre.
This year, the Mato Grosso native won bronze at the World Championships and silver at the European Cup in Barcelona, already having bronze at the 2022 European Championships to his credit.
“I’m coming with a lot of experience after Tokyo 2020, which was the first moment, and also because I’ve had other more important competitions and I’ve proven myself a little more in open waters, which increases the responsibility,” he suggested.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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