A test run for Olympic marathon swimming in the Seine River was canceled on Tuesday due to worries about water quality. World Aquatics decided to cancel the test after a morning meeting.
Concerns about fluctuating bacteria levels in the polluted river have been ongoing, affecting both the triathlon swimming and marathon swimming events planned for the river.
Another test event for marathon swimming is scheduled for Wednesday, and a decision will be made early that morning about whether it will proceed. The women’s marathon swim is planned for Thursday, and the men’s swim is set for Friday.
The cancellation of Tuesday’s event came after the triathlon mixed relay was held in the river on Monday. Data released by World Triathlon showed that the levels of E. coli and enterococci bacteria were acceptable during the triathlon relay.
The swimming part of both the triathlon and marathon swim starts and ends at the Pont Alexandre III, but the marathon swim course extends further down the river. Marathon swimmers will complete six laps of a 1.67-kilometer course, totaling 10 kilometers.
Water samples taken early Monday showed E. coli levels were “good” to “very good” at four points in the river. Enterococci levels, which take longer to analyze, were only fully available by Tuesday morning.
Although one of four enterococci tests did not meet World Aquatics standards, organizers are optimistic that the marathon swimming events will go ahead as planned, based on a favorable weather forecast and ongoing analysis.
