For Some Reason Olympic Triathletes Aren't Willing To Swim In Paris' Shit-Infested River This Summer
Adam Pretty. Getty Images.NBC News -- It is supposed to be the unique centerpiece of Paris 2024: swimming events held in the river Seine thanks to an environmental rejuvenation for this romantic but polluted waterway.
The president of the Paris Organizing Committee has admitted that the triathlon swimming section could be postponed or canceled if pollution levels are still too high. His comments came after a French charity warned that bacteria, including “pollution of fecal origin,” was far higher in the river than permitted with a little over 100 days to go.
This is despite France’s spending 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion) on upgrading the city’s antiquated sewage system, which discharges waste into the river during periods of heavy rainfall.
The Olympics are the world's biggest stage. Every athlete dreams of one day being able to represent their country in their event. These things only come around once every 4 years, so if you're fortunate enough to qualify for the Olympics then you better damn well make the most out of it. You never know if they are going to be your last Olympic games.
So if you're a triathlete competing in the 2024 summer Olympics and you have to swim through some disgusting river filled with literal shit from everyone in Paris? Then you get your ass in that shitty water and you swim. If you end up starting a new bubonic plague as a result of it, then that's an issue we'll deal with later.
How bad do you actually want it? How badly do you want to win an Olympic gold? Or are you willing to just throw all your years of training and dedication away at the first sight of adversity? There's no guarantee you'll be competing in 2028. This could be your final chance to win a gold medal for your country, and you can't even bring yourself to do a quick lap in poo water. What a bunch of cowards.
I can tell you right now that if these were hockey players, they'd already be in that river demanding to compete. Who knew that triathletes were such prima donnas. And don't even get me started on if they actually go ahead and cancel the swimming portion of the event. Last time I checked, the whole point of the triathlon is doing 3 separate disciplines in one event. You take swimming out of the equation and you're not a triathlon gold medalist.
Anyway, congrats to Paris on being disgusting. Can't wait for the games.