The Belgian Olympic Committee announced on Sunday that it would withdraw its team from the mixed relay triathlon after an athlete who swam in the Seine fell ill.
Claire Michel, who competed in the women’s triathlon in Paris on Wednesday, “unfortunately she is ill and will have to withdraw from the race”, the Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee said in a statement.
While the Olympic team did not describe Michelle’s illness or refer to the Seine, Belgian newspaper De Standaard reported that the athlete was hospitalized for an E. coli infection on Sunday. The bacteria can cause serious intestinal and medical problems.
The medley relay triathlon is scheduled to take place on Monday, with the swim portion scheduled for Seine. The statement did not specify Michelle’s illness, but it comes after concerns about the quality of the river’s water. Organizers had said bacteria levels in the river were at a level considered safe for athletes.
Read also: “I saw and felt things I don’t want to think about”: Athlete describes what swimming in the Seine was like
The Belgian committee stated that “he hopes lessons will be learned for future Olympic triathlon events,” adding: “We are thinking here of guarantees on training days, match days and the format of the match, which must be clarified in advance and ensure that there is no uncertainty for the athletes, the environment and the supporters.”
Swiss officials said on Saturday that triathlete Adrien Briffond, who also swam the Seine on Wednesday, fell ill with a stomach infection. However, they said it was “impossible to say” if it is associated with swimming and that the other missions told them that none of their triathletes had reported stomach problems.
Swiss officials said in a briefing on Sunday that Simon Westermann, who had been scheduled to replace Brifond, also had to withdraw due to a gastrointestinal infection. Westermann had not participated in any Seine swims, the statement said.
The Swiss team still planned to compete in the medley relay on Monday, the statement said.
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