Paris, France—The women’s Olympic triathlon finally set off in the River Seine on Wednesday, providing huge relief for organizers after problems with water quality marred the run-up to the competition.
Organizers were forced to cancel training this week in the river and postponed the men’s race on Tuesday after the Seine was found to be too dirty for athletes following rainstorms last week.
But despite heavy rain overnight, which can stir up pollution, organizers early on Wednesday said that the water levels had been “assessed as compliant” for the women’s event and the men’s immediately afterwards to go ahead.
The women triathletes dived into the Seine at the historic Alexandre III bridge in the heart of the City of Light before a cycling stage around Paris and then a running stage.
Big crowds lined the route despite the damp conditions.
Later, French swimming sensation Leon Marchand bids for two more Olympic gold medals in the pool.
Marchand had sent the crowd at La Defense Arena pool into a frenzy by winning the men’s 400m individual medley on Sunday and can expect another red-hot atmosphere when he races in the 200m butterfly and 200m breaststroke finals.
The 22-year-old swam four times across the heats and semi-finals on Tuesday and hopes to have plenty left in the tank.
“It’s a lot for my system, so I’m going to have to sleep well, eat a lot, and I’ll be ready,” vowed Marchand, one of the poster boys for the Games in the French capital.
US great Katie Ledecky, a seven-time gold medalist, is out to defend her 1500m freestyle title after being relegated to bronze in the 400m behind Ariarne Titmus and Summer McIntosh.
Chinese world record-holder Pan Zhanle is favourite in the men’s 100m freestyle final, while 200m freestyle champion Mollie O’Callaghan will be expected to triumph in the women’s 100m free.
