{"id":251674,"date":"2024-08-06T15:15:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-06T15:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2024\/08\/06\/belgium-withdraws-from-triathlon-after-athlete-gets-sick-from-seine-hollywood-life\/"},"modified":"2025-06-25T17:13:03","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T17:13:03","slug":"belgium-withdraws-from-triathlon-after-athlete-gets-sick-from-seine-hollywood-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2024\/08\/06\/belgium-withdraws-from-triathlon-after-athlete-gets-sick-from-seine-hollywood-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Belgium Withdraws from Triathlon After Athlete Gets Sick from Seine \u2013 Hollywood Life"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Image Credit: BELGA MAG\/AFP via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Belgium\u2019s Olympic committee (COIB) announced Sunday that their triathlon mixed relay team has withdrawn from Monday\u2019s event after one of its athletes who swam in the Seine River last week became ill.<\/p>\n

Claire Michel<\/strong>, who competed in the women\u2019s triathlon Wednesday, finishing in 38th place, \u201cis unfortunately ill and will have to withdraw from the competition,\u201d the Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee said in a statement.<\/p>\n

The team did not specify whether Michel was sickened by the long-polluted river with its constantly changing safe-to-swim status, which was the site of the triathlon\u2019s 1,500-meter swim. Belgian newspaper De Standaard<\/a> claimed that the 35-year-old was infected with E. coli.<\/p>\n

Organizers had said that water quality tests done the day of the individual triathlon races showed \u201cvery good\u201d bacteria levels. However, in the days leading up to her race, the men\u2019s individual event was postponed and practices were canceled after water quality testing showed the Seine was unsafe for swimming.<\/p>\n

A joint statement from World Triathlon and Paris 2024 said: \u201cThe latest test results confirm that Seine water-quality levels at the triathlon venue have improved in recent hours, with forward-looking analysis indicating that water quality will be within the levels acceptable by World Triathlon.\u201d<\/p>\n

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La triathl\u00e8te belge Claire Michel a d\u00fb \u00eatre hospitalis\u00e9e apr\u00e8s son \u00e9preuve dans la seine.\ud83e\udee3<\/p>\n

L\u2019\u00e9quipe belge a donc d\u00e9clarer forfait pour le #triathlon<\/a> de demain. Elle se trouve \u00e0 l\u2019h\u00f4pital depuis 4 jours.<\/p>\n

L’\u00e9preuve sera-t’elle report\u00e9e de nouveau ?.\ud83e\udd14#OlympicGames<\/a> #Olympic2024<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/cKEaDUDrSO<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Geek (@geek_of_life) August 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

On Saturday, the Swiss team said that their athlete Adrien Briffod<\/strong>\u2014who took part in the men\u2019s race\u2014had a stomach infection and would not compete in the mixed relay.<\/p>\n

COIB added after the withdrawal that it hopes \u201cthat lessons will be learned for future triathlon competitions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are thinking of training days that can be guaranteed, competition days and formats that are clear in advance and circumstances that do not cause uncertainty among athletes, entourage, and fans.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daily water quality tests measure levels of fecal bacteria, including E. coli, in the Seine\u2019s waters. Under World Triathlon\u2019s guidelines, E. coli levels up to 1,000 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters can be considered \u201cgood\u201d and can allow competitions to go forward.<\/p>\n

World Triathlon\u2019s medical committee said it considers water quality analysis, sanitary inspection, and the weather forecast when determining whether to proceed with a race. The decisions have generally been made at early morning meetings on the day of the event. However, in announcing Sunday night that the race would happen Monday, organizers said they were responding to requests from athletes to give them more time to prepare.<\/p>\n

Bronze medalist Daniel Wiffen<\/strong> of Ireland, who won an earlier gold in the 800 free, said he wouldn\u2019t train ahead of time in the Seine: \u201cI don\u2019t want to try to deal with any illness.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said he would instead train in pools around Paris, even if it means \u201cgoing in blind.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n