After a delay due to E. coli in the Seine River, the men’s and women’s triathlon events at the 2024 Paris Games were allowed to begin on Wednesday. French star Cassandre Beaugrand won the gold in the women’s event, while Great Britain’s Alex Yee took the gold in the men’s event. The postponement on Tuesday was a result of unsafe pollution levels detected in the river, caused by recent rain. Despite storms on Tuesday, the water quality improved by Wednesday morning.
The Seine River, which has been banned for swimming for over a century due to pollution, has undergone significant improvements in preparation for the Olympics. The government has invested nearly $1.5 billion to address pollution issues, such as fixing old pipes, reducing untreated wastewater, and building storage basins for rainwater.
The triathlon events in Paris consist of a 1,500-meter swim, a 40-kilometer cycle, and a 10-kilometer run. The Seine will also host the marathon swimming event next week, along with a mixed triathlon event. The International Olympic Committee spokesperson expressed satisfaction that the events could commence and assured that efforts will continue to ensure the river is ready for the upcoming competitions.
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