Paris (EFE).- Frenchwoman Cassandre Beaugrand has been crowned Olympic triathlon champion after completing the course across the waters of the Seine and the streets of Paris, where she sparked celebration among her compatriots.
The silver medal went to Switzerland’s Julie Derron and the bronze to Britain’s Beth Potter.
In the men’s event, postponed from Tuesday to Wednesday, Britain’s Alex Yee won the gold medal after winning a thrilling finale in the Paris Olympics event over the distances of 1.5 km swimming, 40 km cycling and 10 km running.
Yee overtook New Zealander Hayden Wilde just metres from the finish line and took the gold after an incredible comeback. Silver went to Wilde and bronze to Frenchman Leo Bergere.
With another comeback, Spaniard Alberto González finished eighth and won an Olympic diploma.
Concern over the quality of the Seine’s waters
After days of uncertainty, the Paris Olympic triathlon got underway with the women’s event, with 46 participants taking to the waters of the Seine, which have been declared fit for competition.
The race began at 8 o’clock in the morning, on a rainy day, but with good temperature and with the stands around the Alexandre III bridge animated by fans of this sport.
Triathletes are preparing to begin the first stage of the women’s event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on the Seine, this Wednesday. EFE/ Miguel Gutiérrez
Olympic triathlon tournament officials have authorised the tests after the latest analyses of the Seine confirmed that the waters of the Parisian river were not harmful for swimming.
A milestone for the French authorities
The heavy rains of last Friday and Saturday caused the quality of the water to deteriorate to levels that “did not offer sufficient guarantees” for the health of the athletes.
The decision to carry out the tests was taken at a meeting at 3.30am today, where the results of the analysis of water samples taken on Tuesday were evaluated.
Representatives of the Organising Committee, World Triathlon and its technical and medical delegates, the state agency Météo France, the Paris City Council and the Prefecture (central government delegation in the capital) participated in the meeting.
Triathletes compete in the first stage of the women’s event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on the Seine River on Wednesday. EFE/ Miguel Gutiérrez
The triathlon is a milestone in the ambitious goal of the French authorities, from the City Council to the central government, to improve the quality of the waters of the Seine to make them suitable for swimming, which has been prohibited for 101 years in Paris.