Irish Olympian Daniel Wiffen recently had to rush to the hospital in Paris due to a stomach bug, just two days after participating in the marathon swimming event in the River Seine. Wiffen, who won a gold medal in the 800m swimming and a bronze in the 1500m, was supposed to carry the Irish flag during the closing ceremony but was unable to do so because of his illness. He reassured his followers on social media that he is being treated for the bug and is feeling better now.
Wiffen competed in the men’s 10-kilometer marathon swim in the River Seine, finishing 18th with a time of 1 hour 58 minutes. However, he did not attribute his illness to the water, and event organizers emphasized that health problems should not be automatically linked to the river. Paris Olympics organizers sent their well wishes to Wiffen for a speedy recovery, stating that there is no established connection between his illness and the water quality in the Seine.
During the Olympics, at least three athletes participating in the triathlons reported feeling unwell after swimming in the Seine. Belgian triathlete Claire Michel required medical attention after suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea for three days due to a virus. The Seine faced pollution issues during the Games despite a costly upgrade to the Paris sewerage and water treatment system. Summer rains and storms led to untreated wastewater being discharged into the river, causing it to fail multiple tests.
Despite the challenges, Paris 2024 organizers maintain that the two bacteria monitored by health authorities and sports federations, E.Coli and enterococci, were at acceptable levels when the outdoor swimming events were held. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo plans to open three public bathing spots in the river next year as part of the Olympics legacy in the City of Light. German triathlete Tim Hellwig expressed that if the majority of athletes did not encounter any issues, then the water quality is acceptable for competition.
