Australia’s triathlon team is urging Paris Olympics organisers to hold the swim regardless of the water quality of the River Seine because they have received the vaccines.
The persistent rain that marred Friday night’s opening ceremony along the famed river is a nightmare scenario for the event.
Water pollution, a persistent problem for triathlon and marathon swimming events, will increase.
But the Australians have made it clear that if it were up to them, the 1.5km swim will go ahead in next week’s events no matter how bad the water conditions.
Asked if he would swim the Seine, despite the weather, Australia’s leading medal contender Matt Hauser said: “I would do it, I swear!”
“We are hoping for a triathlon. It’s good to do it at this stage. The familiarisation swim may not take place tomorrow, just for the safety of the athletes,” Hauser said on Saturday.
‘The organisers are taking care of everything and we are confident that Tuesday and Wednesday will go according to plan.
‘As I am a good swimmer, I obviously want to do a triathlon; even good runners and weaker swimmers want a triathlon.
Asked if he would swim the Seine despite the weather, Australian medal front-runner Matt Hauser (pictured) said: “I would do it with all my heart.”
“It will be a real test for an Olympic champion. It has to be a triathlon.
“Everything indicates that it will be a triathlon, which is fantastic.”
The men’s triathlon is scheduled for Tuesday, with the women competing the following day in the same 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run in the heart of Paris.
The mixed team relay, which will also include the Sena, will take place on August 5.
“We’ve actually been in some pretty bad water before. We’ve taken all the precautions, we’ve gotten vaccinated and stuff like that,” Hauser said.
“If something comes up, we are prepared for it.”
Organizers could change the triathlon to a bike-run duathlon and move the marathon swim to the rowing venue.
“Whatever comes my way, I’ll be ready for it. If it’s a duathlon, whatever, we’ll do it,” Hauser said.
“It will be a great shame, but we really believe it will be a triathlon.”
The rain will likely mean a strong current, which will be beneficial for strong swimmers like Hauser on the out-and-back course.
Athletes launch themselves into the River Seine from the Pont Alexandre III at the start of the first stage of the women’s triathlon test event for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
Her teammate Natalie Van Coevorden has swum the Seine before and, like Hauser, is keen to see the format remain as planned.
“I swam here last year and it’s good… we are very capable of handling any conditions,” Van Coevorden said.
Hauser is fresh from a victory in Hamburg a fortnight ago and is among the big names at his second Olympic Games.
“Confidence is important, but also knowing that you have the competence, that you do it day after day, that you have been training for more than three years for this,” he said.
