Men's Triathlon Postponed Due to High Pollution Levels in Seine

PARIS – The men's triathlon at the Paris Olympics has been postponed from its original schedule on Tuesday due to elevated pollution levels in the Seine River, as confirmed by World Triathlon. The race will now take place on Wednesday at 10:45 a.m. local time, following the women's event set for 8 a.m. This decision comes as a setback for organizers who had expressed optimism about the water quality improving after recent heavy rains contaminated the river. Despite some improvement in water quality, organizers reported that readings at certain points of the swim course still exceeded acceptable limits. The 55 athletes who were prepared to compete on Tuesday now face uncertainty regarding the race's status. World Triathlon plans to meet with coaches on Tuesday morning to provide updates and discuss the revised schedule. If pollution levels remain high by Wednesday morning, both the men's and women's races may be further postponed to Friday, which has been designated as a contingency day for the events. The mixed triathlon relay event is scheduled for August 5, with an additional contingency day on August 6. Paris authorities have invested significantly in wastewater infrastructure, aiming to make the Seine swimmable as a lasting legacy of the Games. However, recent data indicated concerning E. coli levels, highlighting the challenges posed by variable water quality, particularly following heavy rainfall during the Olympic opening ceremony.