Flora Duffy Supports Potential Venue Change for Paris 2024 Olympic Triathlon Swimming Leg

Flora Duffy, Bermuda's Olympic triathlon champion, has expressed her support for French President Emmanuel Macron's decision to potentially move the swimming leg of the Paris 2024 Olympic triathlon due to water quality concerns in the Seine River. The iconic river, which runs through the heart of Paris, has been the subject of ongoing pollution issues that have raised doubts about its suitability for hosting the swimming events during the upcoming Olympic Games.

Despite fears that the triathlon events could be postponed or reduced to a duathlon, Australian triathlete Matthew Hauser has stated his willingness to "swim in anything" to try and win a medal. "I'm willing to swim in the Seine, even if the water quality is poor, in order to win a medal," Hauser said, emphasizing his determination to compete and succeed at the Paris Olympics.

The Paris 2024 triathlon course is unique, incorporating iconic landmarks like the Champs-Elysees, and Hauser believes he has a chance to win a medal after gaining more experience since his debut at the Tokyo Olympics. The organizers are investing over €1.4 billion to improve the water quality in the Seine River to ensure the safety of the swimmers.

Why this matters: The potential venue change for the Paris 2024 Olympic triathlon swimming leg highlights the importance of environmental sustainability and athlete safety in major sporting events. The decision to prioritize the health and well-being of the competitors sends a strong message about the values and responsibilities of the Olympic movement.

Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo has expressed confidence that the water quality in the Seine River will meet Olympic standards for the 2024 Games. She has invited President Emmanuel Macron and other officials to swim in the Seine to demonstrate the improved water quality, which has been an issue in the past due to pollution. New water treatment facilities have been built to clean up the river, at a cost of 1.4 billion euros. Water quality will be tested daily during the Olympics, and if pollution levels are too high, events could be rescheduled or the swimming portion of the triathlon could be canceled.

Key Takeaways

• Bermuda's Flora Duffy supports Macron's plan to move Paris 2024 triathlon swim
• Aussie triathlete Hauser willing to "swim in anything" to win Olympic medal
• Paris 2024 organizers investing €1.4B to improve Seine River water quality
• Paris mayor confident Seine River will meet Olympic water quality standards
• Daily water quality testing, with option to reschedule or cancel swim events