Despite the ongoing controversy over water quality in the River Seine, the mixed relay triathlon at the Paris Games went ahead as planned, with Germany taking a thrilling gold medal. The triathlon events have been a cause for concern over water quality issues, leading to the postponement of the men's individual race.
In the days leading up to the medley relay, both Switzerland and Belgium had to modify their teams after athletes fell ill after the opening triathlon races. Belgium pulled out entirely after athlete Claire Michel fell ill, while Switzerland had to replace Adrien Briffod with a gastrointestinal infection. However, it is not yet clear whether these diseases are related to water quality in the Seine.
Paris 2024 organizers defended their decision to go ahead with the races, saying water quality was satisfactory ahead of the individual triathlon races. The decision to host swimming events on the Seine River, where swimming has been illegal for a century, was initially met with scepticism. However, the organizers had spent approximately 1.5 billion euros to clean the river, proving its suitability for the Games.
Australia's team doctor revealed the country's triathletes were given medication against the E. coli bacteria a month before the event. Despite the controversy, the race was a thrilling spectacle, with Germany's Laura Lindemann overcoming a 12-second deficit to secure victory for her country.
After a post-race review, Team USA was awarded a silver medal, while Great Britain, defending its Tokyo title, took bronze in a photo finish. The race was marred by an early crash between France and New Zealand, which affected their chances of a podium finish. Despite the fall, France managed to finish fourth.
The victory in the mixed relay triathlon was Germany's first triathlon medal in any discipline since 2008, a testament to the endurance and determination of the athletes amid difficult circumstances.
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