As grand as the 2024 Paris Olympics have been, it also has had its fair share of controversies and problems. There have been issues about athletes having to sleep on cardboard beds, mediocre food, having no AC in the Olympic Village, and no privacy to change clothes. However, a recent issue has caused multiple athletes to withdraw from the competition due to a health crisis. Triathletes have been hospitalized after they swam in the Seine River. While it has become global news, boxing star Ryan Garcia has also shared his opinion on this and on the whole Paris Olympics at large. 

The 25-year-old boxer took to his Instagram and shared a post on his story which read, “Multiple athletes were hospitalised after the Olympics triathlon in the Seine River.” Garcia captioned the story, noting it as the “Worst Olympics ever.” Water quality concerns of the Seine River have been a serious issue throughout the Olympics, which has even caused some test runs to get canceled. 

The organizers had arranged a practice swim in the swimming segment of the Seine River to help the athletes get used to the course. The test runs were designated for Saturday and Sunday ahead of the triathlon mixed relay. Nevertheless, the test runs had to be canceled due to concerns about the quality of the water.

A spokesperson of the Paris Olympics stated, “With respect to competitions held in the Seine, water quality tests are carried out daily and the decision on whether to proceed with an event is taken by the International Federation, World Triathlon, in coordination with Paris 2024, and based on the test results and a range of (notably health) criteria.”

More than one hundred competitors, both male and female, swam in the Seine River last week. Despite all the debate surrounding the river’s water quality, World Triathlon data showed that the amounts of feral bacteria E. coli and enterococci were under acceptable thresholds. But athletes are still getting sick. Let’s hear what the ailing athletes have to say. 

Athletes withdraw from the Olympics due to their ailing health condition 

The Switzerland team announced on Saturday that Adrien Briefed, a triathlete, would not compete on Monday due to a stomach infection. Another swimmer, Simon Westermann, had to withdraw as he fell sick with a gastrointestinal infection. Furthermore, Norway’s Vetle Bergsvik Thorn had a stomach illness for 12 hours. He said, “It’s hard to say if it’s the river or just some ordinary food poisoning.” 

Tilda Mansson of Sweden also got sick on Saturday. The cause of her illness is unclear, but she stated, “Since others have also become ill perhaps you don’t need to be a doctor to draw the conclusion that it had to do with the swimming in the Seine.”

Reportedly, a spokesperson for the Paris Olympics stated that “the health and well-being of athletes is our top priority.” However, with multiple athletes getting sick, their dreams of bringing glory to their country have been put on hold. What do you think about it? Do you believe in Ryan Garcia’s remark that the Paris 2024 Olympics was the worst ever? Share your opinions in the comments section below.