The Australian triathlon team is urging Paris Olympic organisers to keep the swim going regardless of the water quality of the Seine River as they have been vaccinated.
The persistent rain that disrupted the opening ceremony along the famous river on Friday evening is a real nightmare for the event.
It will lead to more water pollution, a persistent problem in triathlon and marathon swimming events.
However, the Australians have said that if it were up to them, the 1.5km swim would go ahead next week, no matter how bad the water conditions were.
When asked if he would swim in the Seine despite the weather, Australia’s top medal contender Matt Hauser replied: ‘I absolutely would’.
“We are expecting a triathlon. It is good to go at this time. The swimming training may not happen tomorrow, just for the safety of the athletes,” Hauser said Saturday.
‘The organization is taking care of everything and we are confident that Tuesday and Wednesday will go according to plan.
‘Because I’m a good swimmer, of course I want to do a triathlon – even the best runners and the less good swimmers want to do a triathlon.
When asked if he would swim in the Seine despite the weather, Australian top medal contender Matt Hauser (pictured) said: ‘I would do the blood oath’
“It will be a real test for an Olympic champion. It has to be a triathlon.”
‘Everything points to it being a triathlon, and that’s great.’
The men’s triathlon is scheduled for Tuesday, after which the women will compete in a 1.5km swim, 40km bike ride and 10km run in the heart of Paris the following day.
The mixed team relay, also featuring a trip across the Seine, is scheduled for August 5.
“We’ve swum in some pretty bad water before. We’ve taken all the precautions, we’ve taken some vaccines and things like that,” Hauser said.
‘If something happens, we are prepared for it.’
Organizers could convert the triathlon into a bike-run duathlon and move the marathon swimming event to the rowing event.
“Whatever comes my way, I’ll be prepared for it. If it’s a duathlon, whatever, we’ll race,” Hauser said.
“It would be a shame, but we really believe that it will be a triathlon.”
The rain will likely create a strong current, which will be helpful to good swimmers like Hauser on the out-and-back route.
Athletes dive into the Seine from the Alexander III Bridge at the start of the first leg of the women’s triathlon test event for the 2024 Paris Olympics
Teammate Natalie Van Coevorden has swum in the Seine before and, like Hauser, would like to see the format remain as planned.
“I swam here last year and it was great. We can handle all conditions very well,” said Van Coevorden.
Hauser won in Hamburg two weeks ago and is now one of the big names at his second Olympic Games.
“Confidence is important, but so is knowing that you have the skills, that you do it day in, day out and that you have trained for more than three years,” he said.