In a dramatic turn of events at the 2024 Paris Olympics, triathlete Tyler Mislawchuk's grueling race through the polluted River Seine has sparked outrage and concern. On July 31, 2024, Mislawchuk, representing Canada, endured a mile-long swim in waters notorious for their contamination, resulting in a shocking post-race scene where he vomited violently on live television.
The triathlon, which also included a 40-kilometer bike ride and a 10-kilometer run, saw Mislawchuk finish in ninth place.
Despite his impressive performance, the Canadian athlete was visibly affected by the conditions of the Seine. "I didn’t come here to come top 10 but I gave it everything I had,” Mislawchuk said afterward. “I went for it, I have no regrets — vomited 10 times.”
The Seine River, historically closed off to swimming for over a century due to health risks from pollutants and diseases like E. coli, was reintroduced into Olympic events as part of Paris’ ambitious $1.
5 billion project aimed at making it “swimmable.” However, heavy rainfall and subsequent runoff had compromised water quality, leading to concerns about the safety of swimming in it.
Despite the investment in cleaning the river, the Seine failed several tests in the lead-up to the Games. The levels of pollutants remained alarmingly high, forcing the triathlon to be rescheduled from its original date due to the worsening conditions.
The article is not finished. Click on the next page to continue.
The article is not finished. Click on the next page to continue.
Next page
