Australian marathon swimmer Nick Sloman isn’t worried about the Seine River’s century-long problem with pollution as he prepares to surge through the famous waterway at the Olympic Games.
Paris 2024 bosses are hoping a $2.3 billion clean-up will ensure the Seine River is fit for use at the Olympics and Paralympics, as they try to transform a waterway in which swimming has not been allowed since 1923.
Sloman secured his place in the men’s 10km event by finishing fifth at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha this month.
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“I was at the World Cup last year and I was speaking to the president of Paris [2024] and I feel confident that the water quality’s not going to be an issue,” Sloman told Wide World of Sports from Qatar.
“They’re doing a lot of work and they’re investing a lot of money in making sure that the water is safe, and the [Australian] triathlon team had no issue, so I’m pretty confident based on all of that.”
The Seine River will host marathon swimming and triathlon at the Olympics, as well as triathlon at the Paralympics, provided the river is clean enough.
Fears were heightened in August last year when heavy rain led to the cancellation of the Open Water Swimming World Cup. “The water quality in the Seine has remained below acceptable standards for safeguarding swimmers’ health,” the French Swimming Federation said in a statement.
The Seine River will be the stage for the opening ceremony on July 26, as the iconic event is held outside a stadium for the first time in Olympic history. Athletes will board boats designated for each national delegation and meander down the river from east to west.
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“It’s got its challenges,” Sloman said of the river.
“It’s quite narrow and it’s basically almost like a point-to-point [course]. You’ve got an 800-metre straight and then a quick turnaround and you’re basically going back the way that you came.
“It’s also fresh water, so that’s obviously going to change the dynamic to Doha.
“It will be exciting to throw in those challenges, as well.”
Australia has qualified its full quota of marathon swimmers for the first time in Olympic history, with Sloman, Kyle Lee, Chelsea Gubecka and Moesha Johnson meeting the qualification requirements.
Gubecka was the first athlete announced as a member of Australia’s Paris 2024 team.
Olympic canoe slalom gold medallist Jess Fox followed, ahead of sailor Breiana Whitehead and two sport climbers, Campbell Harrison and Oceana Mackenzie.
Canoe slalom athletes Tim Anderson and Tristan Carter were announced on the Australian Olympic team on Tuesday.