"Paris Triumphs: Seine Swims Back to Life as Olympic Triathletes Dive In"
Olympic triathletes took the plunge into the Seine River on Wednesday after officials declared the water in Paris safe for swimming, following concerns over elevated bacteria levels caused by heavy rains last week.
The women’s race began at 8 a.m. near the iconic Pont Alexandre III, with the rain easing just as the athletes entered the river. Some competitors even dunked their goggles in the Seine before donning them and swimming against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower. The men followed less than three hours later.
The decision to proceed with the swimming portion of the triathlon was a significant milestone for the city, organizers, and athletes. Officials had invested 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion) in infrastructure improvements to clean up the historically polluted Seine. Despite earlier uncertainties due to recent rainfall, early Wednesday’s water tests confirmed the river met safety standards. “It’s magic,” said Tony Estanguet, chief Paris Games organizer, to French television. “It’s a very important legacy for Parisians to be able to swim in the Seine starting next year.”
The ambitious infrastructure projects aim to allow Parisians to enjoy the river again after over a century of restrictions, with plans to open public swimming pools in the Seine by 2025.
French President Emmanuel Macron celebrated the achievement on X, stating, “Thanks to a massive investment, we have achieved in just four years what was impossible for 100 years: the Seine is now swimmable.”
Triathletes swam a 1.5-kilometer (1-mile) course, staying close to the barges and boats lining the riverbanks. Spectators cheered from stands and bridges as the athletes completed their swim, then transitioned to the biking and running legs of the race through Paris, including the Champs-Élysées.
In the women’s event, Cassandre Beaugrand of France took gold, with Switzerland’s Julie Derron earning silver and Britain’s Beth Potter securing bronze. In the men’s race, Britain’s Alex Yee won gold, New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde took silver, and France’s Léo Bergère captured bronze.
