The rain sent the swimmers back to the locker rooms.
This August 6, 2023, the temporary pontoons built in the heart of Paris remained deserted.
Around a hundred athletes were supposed to dive into the Seine for the French leg of the Open Water Swimming World Cup.
Ten kilometers of a race which was to serve as a rehearsal for this summer's Olympic trials.
The weather decided otherwise.
120 millimeters of rain fell in two weeks, unheard of at this time of year since 1965. It saturated the network, causing wastewater to be released into the river, synonymous with pollution.
The rest after this ad
Mid-August, again: the triathlon world championship is also canceled.
This time the problem comes from a faulty valve.
At the same time, the experiment launched on the Quai de Jemmapes, along the Saint-Martin canal (10th century) was also a success.
Fed by the Ourcq, the Beuvronne and the Marne, this waterway was supposed to be accessible for swimming every Sunday afternoon in the summer.
Due to a lack of sufficient water quality, families were only able to get wet on two of the seven planned days.
Subscribe
Already subscribed?
To log in