It just might not be next Tuesday morning (men) and Wednesday morning (women) that we will be able to enjoy the Olympic triathlons, but will have to wait until Friday, Aug. 2. That, according to Eric Noël, World Triathlon’s technical operations manager, depends entirely on the water quality and strong current of the Seine, where the swim will take place. A duathlon format is also still a possibility.
In any case, the rain that fell last night during the opening ceremony of the Olympics does not make the water quality any better. A swim course reconnaissance is scheduled for Sunday morning (July 28, ed.) and the water quality will also be tested again. According to Noël, a scenario is at least being considered in which both the men’s and women’s races are postponed to Friday, Aug. 2. Both races would then be held on the same day. Should that happen, the Mixed Team Relay would likely be shifted by one day and thus take place not on Aug. 5 but on Aug. 6.
Even a duathlon format is still a possibility. On race days (Tuesday, July 30 and Wednesday, July 31, ed.) a final water quality check will take place at 3:30a.m. Based on that, a final decision will be made.
Last year during the Olympic Test Event, the swim already took place in the Seine. In the days that followed, many athletes fell ill. A duathlon format was then used for the Mixed Team Relay.
