Team GB stars ready to risk their own health by diving into River Seine despite fears they could swim in POO
TEAM GB’s triathlon stars are ready to risk their health by diving into the River Seine – despite fears they could be swimming in s***.
Olympic chiefs are conducting daily tests on the water running through the French capital after potentially dangerous levels of E.coli were detected.
But Tokyo medal-winning duo Georgia Taylor-Brown and Alex Yee, as well as current world No 1 woman Beth Potter, all vowed to ignore the possible after-effects in their bids for gold.
Taylor Brown, like Yee an individual silver-medallist in Tokyo before joining forces to top the mixed team podium, revealed the extent of measures being taken to prevent the worst.
It includes surgical cleaning agents, mouthwash, pro-biotic yoghurts – and an obligatory can of….Coke.
Taylor Brown said: “Nobody wants to get ill but we are used to swimming in some terrible quality water.
“We’ve seen people being physically sick after races.
“Even in Tokyo, after the races the doctor was washing us down with a pink solution that’s used in hospitals, just to get everything off of us straight away.
“But here it’s about cleanliness, keeping on top of hydration afterwards.
“So it means using things like Pepto-Bismol, the anti-nausea medicine, just to line your stomach before the race and after the race, while I take pro-biotics every day for my gut health.
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“Then mouthwash straight away after the race and a can of Coke.
“It’s a bit of an old wive’s tale but if you put a £1 coin in a Coke overnight it strips it so maybe it’s good for your stomach but not great for your health at times.
“Sadly it’s something we’ve had to become used to.
“Sometimes we’d be swimming and boats have just passed and we can see the oil in the water in front of us.”
Yee added: “I’ve been very lucky in my career that I’ve never been ill after racing because of the poor quality water but cleaning it up is something we need in our sport.
“As athletes we need 100 per cent trust in the conditions we’re going to be given.
“The important thing is that we know they are trying to make a difference to clean the water up but we have no option other than to get on with it.”
Potter, who won the test event on the same Paris course last year, agreed: “When I’m on the start line I’ll think ‘Just step up and go for it – do it for yourself.’
“It’s not just another race. I know there’s a lot at stake, but going to Paris and winning last year has given me confidence that I can do it.”
But with Games bosses demanding daily updates before the two individual events – Yee goes on Tuesday with the women’s race 24 hours later – it is possible that the swimming element could be AXED.
Taylor-Brown explained: “The water quality is being tested continuously every single day and we do get updates.
“We’re working on a day by day basis. I know that’s happening in the background but I’m just focusing on the things that I can control.
“If it had to become a duathlon that would be a really sad time and it will be difficult.
“Last year in the test event, the relay turned into a duathlon, which was a shame.
“But if that’s the decision that they have to take to keep us safe, then that’s the decision.”