Paris Olympics: Australia to let athletes decide on swimming in dirty River Seine

Australia will provide protective treatment for athletes competing in the waters of the River Seine at the Paris Olympics and the final decision on whether they take the plunge will rest with the swimmers.

France has committed to clearing the Paris waterway of pollutants sufficiently to safely stage the marathon swimming and swimming element of the triathlon in July and August.

A giant reservoir was opened by the city’s mayor last month to help reduce the risks of pollution in the river, but regular tests of the water quality are still revealing unhealthy levels of contaminants after rainy days.

Anna Meares, Australia’s Chef de Mission for the Games, said she had faith in the assurances of the organisers on the matter of water safety but would not be dictating any action to athletes if tests showed the water was not safe.

“It’s not a point of us stepping in to say ‘we will not let you swim’. Ultimately it’s the choice of the athlete,” the former cyclist told an Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) media briefing on the Paris Games on Wednesday.