Triathletes from Portuguese Paralympic Team Fall Ill After Swimming in Seine River
Two athletes from the four-member Portuguese Paralympic triathlon team, Vasco Vilaça and Melanie Santos, have fallen ill following their swim in the Seine River during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Both athletes developed gastrointestinal infections after competing on August 5, with Vilaça’s symptoms reported as more severe compared to Santos.
The Portuguese Olympic Committee (COP) has stated that Vilaça’s condition is stable, and their health team is providing conservative treatment and monitoring him closely in the Olympic Village. Santos is also experiencing similar symptoms, though they are less acute.
Belgium’s triathlete Claire Michel withdrew from the mixed relay event after falling ill, and three other competitors from the men’s and women’s triathlons, held on July 31, also reported sickness in the days following their races. It remains unclear if the Seine River’s water quality was the cause.
Swimming in the Seine had been prohibited since 1923 due to pollution. However, Paris undertook a major €1.4 billion investment to upgrade water quality for the Olympics, including the construction of a giant basin to manage rainwater and prevent wastewater from entering the river.
