Men’s Triathlon Postponed Due To Water Quality

July 30, 2024 | 7 Comments

[Updated] If you were planning to get up at 3:00am to watch Tyler Smith compete today [Tuesday, July 30], cancel your alarm clock as the men’s triathlon has been postponed due to the poor water quality - and it is now scheduled to take place on Wednesday July 31st.

A few hours before the race was scheduled to start, officials announced they have postponed the men’s triathlon race originally scheduled for 3am Bermuda time on Tuesday morning [July 30] due to the poor water quality of the Seine River.

Bermuda’s Tyler Smith is scheduled to compete in the men’s triathlon, and Dame Flora Duffy and Erica Hawley are scheduled to compete in the women’s triathlon.

“Despite the improvement on the water quality levels in the last hours, the readings at some points of the swim course are above acceptable levels,” read a statement from World Triathlon, which was released at around midnight Bermuda time.

“Paris 2024 and World Triathlon reiterate that their priority is the the health of the athletes,” the statement said.

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“Unfortunately, meteorological events beyond our control, such as the rain which fell over Paris on 26 and 27 July, can alter water quality and compel us to reschedule the event for health reasons,” said an official statement from World Triathlon. “Despite the improvement of water quality levels over the last hours, the readings at some points of the swim course are still above the acceptable limits.”

NBC reports, “Swimming hasn’t been allowed in the Seine for about a century because of contamination, and many people remained skeptical as to whether authorities could clean it up in time for the Games.

“Last year, Olympics organizers planned to hold test triathlon events in the Seine to make sure the competitions could run smoothly, but several of those events were canceled after the river failed pollution tests in August.”

A look at the water in the river in Paris this morning

water Paris July 30 2024

The new plan is that they will hold the men’s triathlon after the women’s triathlon on Wednesday, however this will still be contingent upon the water quality, so we will continue follow along for the latest developments.

If all goes to plan, Bermuda will have three triathletes in action on Wednesday [July 31], with Dame Flora Duffy and Erica Hawley scheduled to compete first at 3am Bermuda time, and then followed by Tyler Smith.

Update 8.23am: The BOA issued a statement which said, “The Bermuda Olympic Association [BOA] and the Bermuda Triathlon Association [BTA] wish to notify the public of a recent development regarding the men’s triathlon race at the ongoing Paris Olympic Games. Due to water quality test results, World Triathlon, has announced that the men’s triathlon has been rescheduled for July 31 at 10:45am [Paris time]. It will take place immediately following the women’s event which is scheduled for 8:00am [Paris time] on July 31.”

Director and President of the Bermuda Triathlon Association, Steven Petty, expressed his disappointment but went on to say the following, “The safety of the athlete is always a priority and the top level officials from all concerned bodies certainly made the correct decision to postpone. I appreciate the resilience of our triathletes and hope that the triathlon events will proceed as planned.”

The spokesperson said, “We recognize these changes are an inconvenience to our athletes, our fans, and all those who have been preparing and looking forward to this event. The decision was made in conjunction with the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee, representatives of World Triathlon and their technical and medical delegates, the International Olympic committee [IOC], Meteo France, the City of Paris and the prefecture of the Île-de-France region, with the paramount concern being the well-being of the athletes who have trained tirelessly for this prestigious competition. During a recent briefing, it was confirmed that all tickets purchased for the men’s triathlon on July 30, will be fully reimbursed as they will not be valid for entrance on July 31.”

Bermuda’s Chef de Mission for the Paris 2024 games, Katura Horton-Perinchief states, “I feel for the athletes who have prepared themselves for incredible performances in the triathlon events at the Olympic Games. We are fully supportive of World Triathlon and Paris 2024’s recommendations, however, and are confident that the decisions made will be in the best interest of our athletes’ health and wellbeing. Team Bermuda fans will be out in full force to support all three Bermudian triathletes regardless of any schedule changes and we are excited to see them race on this iconic stage.”

The spokesperson said, “The Bermuda Olympic Association extends its unwavering support to Bermuda’s male triathlete, Tyler Smith, who has demonstrated remarkable dedication and effort in preparing for the Olympics and will continue to support all of our triathletes during this time of adjustment.”

Triathlete Tyler Smith commented that the athletes are aware that changes are always a possibility and, as a professional triathlete, he is prepared to adjust. “One of the hallmarks of great athletes is their ability to adapt to changing circumstances. In triathlon, we’re racing in an open environment, so we’re used to adapting.The later start time means we will be running in the heat of the day. Hydratation, fuelling and pace management during the run will be more crucial. I’m getting my head in the right place and getting ready for tomorrow.”

The spokesperson said, “The BOA and the BTA remain committed to ensuring a safe and successful Olympic experience for all involved.”

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Comments (7)

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  1. MADDOG says:

    “Swimming hasn’t been allowed in the Seine for about a century because of contamination”…..and now we are disappointed and surprised that the water is not clean enough for the Olympic athletes? You thought you could undo centuries of abusing and polluting the water and blame the rain fall…. how about you take accountability Human race – we are the ones polluting everything….Writing was on the wall with this one.

    • jon says:

      Facts, I was thinking the same thing. Why would athlete’s even consider swimming in that water.

      • Toodle-oo says:

        I wouldn’t even swim in Hamilton Harbour so you know I aink gonna go for a dip in the Seine . It’s beyond me how it was even considered in the first place.

    • Hilarious says:

      But the Mayor of Paris recently swam in the Seine to show that it was safe. Efforts to clean up the river for the Olympics… See: Inside the Billion-Dollar Effort to Clean Up the World’s Most Romantic River – Time March 13, 2023

      Once the €1.4 billion ($1.5 billion) project is finished—by next spring, if all goes to plan—Parisians will be legally allowed to swim in the river for the first time in a century. (Authorities banned it in 1923 because of high levels of pollution.) “Swimming at the foot of the Eiffel Tower will be very romantic,” Grégoire says, before guiding TIME underground into the giant—and decidedly unromantic—rainwater storage tank, crucial to cleaning the Seine.

      • Joe Bloggs says:

        I think I will stick with a lunch on the Bateaux Mouches and skip swimming in the Seine, thank you.

        • Hilarious says:

          I think that Tahiti would have been a better location for the triathlon. The surfing competition is already there.

          • Joe Bloggs says:

            I’ve always wanted to go to Tahiti!

            Tahiti for the 2028 Olympics!

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