Olympia 2024 - German swimming coach questions: Can the races take place in the Seine?
German trainer Bernd Berkhahn considers Olympic open water swimming races in the Seine unfavorable at the moment. "The scenery is great. We all want to swim there, that's for sure. But the conditions aren't there yet," Berkhahn stated. A major issue for him is the current. "Triathletes will have problems getting back. Swimmers might make it but will take a long time." During the races, athletes swim with the current at times and against it at others.
"If it stays at one meter per second, we have a fast downstream leg and I wouldn't really want to see that because they're rowing races," Berkhahn added. "That doesn't make any sense to me, and it won't do the sport justice. I find that a shame."
Switching to Rowing Course Possible
The open water swimming races are scheduled for August 8 and 9. If the conditions in the Seine do not improve by then, the competition venue for rowers could be an option.
The Seine's water pollution is also a concern. "It seems they have it somewhat under control, that the worst contamination is coming out of the Seine," Berkhahn said. "But there were images the last few days with pallets floating and branches. This morning there was a tire. That doesn't meet the standards of an Olympic race."
Florian Wellbrock's coach declined to make a prediction: "Will they get it under control? I don't know."
Triathletes Cannot Swim in the Fluss for Now
The first training session for the triathlon swimming competition was suddenly canceled on Sunday morning, according to the Olympic organizers and the Triathlon World Federation. The organizers justified this due to the poor water quality. Only the running and cycling training on the Olympic course was allowed to take place.
The tests conducted on Saturday did not meet the water quality requirements demanded by the Triathlon Federation to allow swimming, it was stated. The reason given was the heavy rainfall in Paris in recent days. "Paris 2024 and World Triathlon confirm that the health of the athletes is a priority," the organizers shared.
Weather Forecast Gives Organizers Hope
There had been much discussion in Paris about whether the water quality in the Seine was good enough for competitions to take place. 1.4 billion Euros have been invested in the Paris region in recent years in sewage treatment plants and the wastewater system to improve water quality. One of the things prevented is the entry of sewage into the river during heavy rain with the water masses.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo made the Seine the focal point of the Parisian Olympic bid: Several swimming competitions were to take place in the river flowing through the city, where the opening ceremony took place on Saturday. In mid-July, Hidalgo herself swam in the Seine to demonstrate that the cleanup had been successful.
During controls in the past months, the water quality still left something to be desired. The city attributed this to the unusual wet weather and low temperatures. At higher temperatures and a lower water level in the Seine, disease-carrying organisms are broken down more quickly.
The weather forecast with a lot of sun in the coming days gives the organizers hope that they will not have to relocate the competitions. They are optimistic that the limit values will be undershot again before the first triathlon decision on Tuesday.
The Rhine River, known for its pristine waters, could serve as an alternative venue for the Olympic open water swimming races if the conditions in the Seine do not improve by August 8 and 9. Olympia, the ancient Greek site known for its sports competitions, might appreciate a swimmer's perspective in the Rhine, showcasing the universality of the sport's appeal.
