Racing shift at the Paralympics triathlon: their water quality concerned

Racing shift at the Paralympics triathlon: their water quality concerned

The anticipation for the Paralympics in Paris received an unexpected dampers when the organizers announced that the triathlon competitions had to be postponed due to poor water quality. After several days with heavy rain, the swimming route for the athletes was considered unreasonable. The event, which was originally supposed to take place on two days, was merged to one day and moved to Sunday.

"It came a bit unexpectedly because the water was okay recently. Nobody expected that," said the German flag bearer and two-time Paralympics gold medalist Martin Schulz about the situation. It is once more evident how unpredictable the weather conditions can influence the competition conditions and that the organizers must always be prepared for unexpected challenges.

Current situation

The uncertainty about the implementation of the competitions remains. According to the latest information, water quality continues to be monitored. There were reports of an increased concentration of bacteria in the flow, which makes the conditions uncertain for the swimmers. "The values ​​are not much, but they are just above the upper limit," said national coach Tom Kosmehl, who only learned late from the decision to shift. Despite these challenges, he remains optimistic: "We are optimistic that everything will take place tomorrow. The weather is stable. We are preparing ourselves, but the day after tomorrow would also be a chance."

Already at the Olympic Games there were similar problems with water quality, which postponed triathlon races. Such events illustrate how important it is to put the health of the athletes in the first place. The last tests showed a significant deterioration in water quality, which is why the competitions on Pont Alexandre III cannot be carried out. This is another setback for the athletes who have prepared for the event.

Schulz noticed that the initial shift in the training was regarded as a precaution: "But that was more of a precaution. You are very careful, which is basically good. We are taking it on now." The athletes are aware of the challenges and are determined to do their best under these circumstances.

For the competitors, this situation is not only a physical challenge, but also a psychological one. You have to adapt to changes and adapt your preparations. Despite all the setbacks, the spirit of the Paralympics is preserved: the fighting spirit and the determination of mastering challenges and crossing their own limits, even if the weather and other external influences do not play along.