Beck, Märtens & 1 Other German Swimmer, As Well As Ireland's Wiffen, Unwell After Marathon
“Vomited 9 times yesterday + diarrhea. Water quality in the Seine is approved. TICK" - Leonie Beck, marathon world champion for Germany
Three German swimmers became ill after competing in the open water marathons at the Paris Olympics last Thursday (women) and Friday (men).
It was not immediately clear if pollutants and bacteria in the Seine River was responsible for their sickness but the symptoms were in line with bacterial infection.
After months of reports of levels of bacteria higher than permitted levels, organisers and World Aquatics reported that all was well on the first morning of scheduled marathon racing last Thursday when confirming the race would go ahead.
The swimmers were not identified in a statement released Saturday by the German Olympic Sports Confederation, though Leonie Beck went on social media to reveal her condition.
All three swimmers have recovered and expect to travel home as planned.
It is also known that another who raced in the marathon, Dan Wiffen, the Irish winner of the 800m free in the pool, will not be able to attend the closing ceremony as a flag bearer after reporting too unwell to attend. It is not known whether his illness is related to his swim jin the Seine.
Beck, World champion for Germany, took to Instagram to report:
“Vomited 9 times yesterday + diarrhea. Water quality in the Seine is approved. TICK"
The German committee said in its statement that three of its athletes became ill.
“Two female German open water swimmers were treated as outpatients (Friday) for nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. They have been feeling much better since this morning. Another swimmer with similar symptoms is currently being treated by the German team doctors.”
The other German swimmer in the women’s open water race was Leonie Märtens, sister of 400m free champion Lukas Märtens, after she placed 22nd in the 24-woman marathon last Thursday.
Germany's Oliver Klemet took silver in the men's race and defending champion Florian Wellbrock eighth. It is not yet known which of the swimmers has been ill.
After the women's race, fifth-placed Bettina Fabian, of Hungary, said: “We'll see what the symptoms will be in a few days. I brought Hungarian Palinka (Hungarian brandy) … let’s see if I am going to be okay or not.” She then took a big swig of Palinka.
The 'safety first' message had been reinforced by Claire Michel, a triathlete, now home in Belgium, who thanked doctors for getting her through "three days of vomiting and diarrhoea" caused by a virus after she'd finished 38th in the triathlon, including a 1.5km swim in the Seine.
On the way to the Games, there were many concerns expressed about bugs and pollutants in the Seine and many lab reports confirming why those concerns had too be taken seriously in a sport where that is obligatory:
Despite a euros 1.4 billion cleanup project, readings for dangerous bacteria that can cause meningitis were still being reported up to Tuesday last week.
