Paris is facing an unforeseen challenge. Seine, the site scheduled to host the Paris Olympics open water events, is under scrutiny. The water is found to be polluted and has been declared unfit for swimming. This can be a huge blow for the Games as marathon swimming is one of the biggest attractions of the Olympics. As per reports, Eau de Paris has found levels of e-coli well above the safe limits for three consecutive weeks. 

Fortunately for the swimmers, a glimmer of hope has emerged recently. The latest testing showed significant improvements, recording contamination levels below 900 colony-forming units per 100ml. Meanwhile, an American swimmer is not ready to rely on the tests. Instead, he wanted to check the authenticity of Seine’s waters himself. And guess what? He actually dived! 

Joel Stratte McClure takes one for the team

Joel Stratte McClure is an American professional swimmer. Even though he has aged, his love for his country once again brought him back to the murky waters of the Seine. Posing for a magazine cover shoot, McClure last took a dip in the Seine back in 1976. But he was eager to return to the waters to discover how the French authorities had managed them. Before putting in the dive, McClure jokingly stated, “I may regret having swum… But if I come back alive, it will prove that the French have done a good job cleaning up the river.”

And to his surprise, the quality of water McClure swam in was indeed better than before. The authorities have been working tirelessly, devising ways to save Paris from the blushes. In fact, Anne Hidalgo, the Mayor of Paris wanted to swim in the Seine to prove the cleanliness. 

However, political engagements made her postpone her plans. Now she will be diving in mid-July instead. With authorities working hard to reduce contamination, swimmers need to step up their game to ensure the event’s success. Especially for Team USA, with McClure taking this risk, swimmers must strive to win as many medals as possible to honor the 75-year-old.

Team USA eyes better performance in marathon swimming

While the USA boasts of Michael Phelps in pool swimming, one area they would like to improve upon is marathon swimming. Back in Tokyo, in the men’s division, Jordan Wilimovsky was the sole American in the top ten list of the 10km swim. Thus, this time, the Americans will look to set the record straight.

Three athletes have qualified for the open water category: Katie Grimes, who will compete in the 1500m freestyle and 400m individual medley; Ivan Puskovitch in the men’s 10k; and Mariah Denigan in the women’s 10k category. Striving for medals will not only improve America’s records in this discipline but also contribute to the overall medal tally, thereby helping Team USA achieve a better ranking.