Triathletes Vasco Vilas and Melanie Santos with gastrointestinal infections after swimming in the Seine

Portugal’s Vasco Vilasa and Melanie Santos have developed symptoms of a gastrointestinal infection in recent days after competing in the triathlon at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, the Portuguese Olympic Committee (COP) said on Wednesday.

According to the COP, Vasco Vilaza has more acute symptoms than Melanie Santos, although both are in stable condition.

“The Portuguese Olympic Committee (COP) informs through its Sports Medicine Directorate that athlete Vasco Vilaça has developed in the last few hours symptoms compatible with a gastrointestinal infection during his stay at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris,” the COP said.

The organization also reports that “the clinical condition is stable, and the CS medical team is taking all measures to monitor and provide conservative treatment in the Olympic Village, as required for the athlete.”

“Over the past few days, athlete Melanie Santos has also developed similar symptoms, but in a less acute form,” said the police officer, who is “attentive and provides the best medical care to its athletes.”

According to the COP, “World Triathlon, the international federation for this sport, ensured that water quality assessments were in accordance with established rules on triathlon competition days.”

“Despite the observance of the necessary safety limits, the presence of some of the assessed parameters creates a risk of contamination in this environmental context,” the SC concluded.

Vasco Vilaça finished fifth in the individual triathlon and Melanie Santos finished 45th, along with Ricardo Batista and Maria Tomé in the mixed relay, with Portugal finishing fifth.

Water quality in the Seine has forced the triathlon swimming training to be cancelled and the men’s race to be postponed by one day.