Three German Olympic swimmers fell ill after competing in the open water races during the Paris Olympics, sparking concerns about the water quality of the Seine River. The athletes, who have since recovered, experienced symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea following the event, though it remains unclear if the polluted river was responsible for their sickness.
The German Olympic Sports Confederation issued a statement on Saturday confirming that two female swimmers were treated as outpatients for their symptoms on Friday, and another swimmer was still under the care of the German team doctors. While the statement did not identify the athletes, swimmer Leonie Beck later revealed on social media that she was one of those affected. Beck, who finished ninth in the 10-kilometer event, shared a picture on Instagram with a sarcastic caption referencing the water quality in the Seine. “Vomited 9 times yesterday + diarrhea,” Beck wrote, adding, “Water quality in the Seine is approved.”
The other German swimmer in the women’s race was Leonie Maertens, who placed 22nd out of 24 competitors. The German men’s team also had two participants in the open water race: silver medalist Oliver Klemet and eighth-place finisher Florian Wellbrock. It is not known which of the male swimmers was affected by the illness.
Despite these incidents, Paris organizers and World Aquatics, the governing body for open water swimming, released data indicating that the water quality met the safety standards for the races. According to the testing, levels of E. coli and other bacteria were well within acceptable limits. In response to the reports of illness, the Paris organizing committee expressed concern for the athletes but stated that there was no established link between their sickness and the water quality.
The Seine River, long known for its pollution, had swimming banned for over a century due to bacteria-laden waters. A significant cleanup effort was undertaken ahead of the Olympics to make the river safe for swimming events, but concerns resurfaced as some water readings before the races showed unacceptable levels of harmful bacteria. This led to changes in the triathlon schedule and the cancellation of one of two open water practice sessions.
While several athletes reported falling ill after the triathlon, it remains unclear if their symptoms were caused by swimming in the Seine. Some athletes, like women’s gold medalist Sharon van Rouwendaal of the Netherlands, dismissed concerns about the water quality, noting that she even swallowed some of the river water during her race without issue.
As the Paris Olympics continue, the incident highlights ongoing concerns about the safety of the Seine River, despite the organizers’ assurances. The health of the affected swimmers and the overall water quality will likely remain a topic of discussion as the games progress.
