Claire Michael hospitalised after swimming in the Seine

According to L’Equipe, triathlete Claire Michel has been hospitalized after swimming in the Seine during the women’s event won by Cassandre Beaugrand. The 35-year-old athlete was admitted after being infected with the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. Coli), a bacillus from the Enterobacteriaceae family that typically resides in the intestines of humans and animals. While most of its strains are harmless, some can cause severe abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea, and vomiting.

Concerns over River Seine water for triathlon

The same microbe led to the cancellation of the swimming section’s inspections last Sunday and Monday, also postponing the men’s race after tests in France’s third-longest river showed it was not suitable for swimming. The competitions proceeded once the presence of the germ in the Seine was halved.

On Sunday we faced another cancellation, again with the Seine as the focal point. However, the organisers are optimistic about the mixed relay event tomorrow at 8 a.m. local time (2 a.m. ET).

“Seine water not Coca-Cola”

Several triathletes, including Jolien Vermeylen, expressed their dissatisfaction with the measures implemented after the men’s individual event.

“I drank a lot of water, so tomorrow we’ll know if I’m sick or not. Obviously, it doesn’t taste like Coca-Cola or Sprite. While swimming under the bridge, I felt and saw things we shouldn’t think too much about.”

With Claire Michel’s hospitalisation, the Belgian mixed team is forced to withdraw from the relay event. Consequently, the Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee criticized the organizers through a harsh statement.

“The BOIC and Belgian Triathlon hope lessons are learned for future triathlon competitions. We are concerned about the certainty of training days, competition days, and the competition format, which must be clarified in advance to ensure there is no uncertainty for the athletes, the environment, and the fans.”