Portuguese athletes showed symptoms of infection after swimming in the Seine River

Portuguese triathletes Vasco Vilaça and Melanie Santos have developed possible symptoms of a gastrointestinal infection after participating in triathlon events on the River Seine during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Vasco Vilaça, who is currently in a “stable” condition at the Olympic Village, developed “symptoms compatible with a gastrointestinal infection,” the Portuguese Olympic Committee (COP) said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Melanie Santos, her compatriot, also shows similar signs, although in a “less acute” form, the COP said.

Although World Triathlon, the sport’s international federation, assured that the water quality assessments carried out during the competition days complied with established standards, the Portuguese Olympic Committee pointed out that the presence of certain parameters in the water still represented “a risk of infection in this environmental context.”

Vilaça and Santos have had a remarkable performance at the Games. Both managed to secure an Olympic diploma for Portugal by finishing fifth in the mixed triathlon relay event. In their individual events, Vilaça achieved an impressive fifth place, while Santos finished in 45th position.

The water quality of the Seine River has been a controversial issue during the Paris Olympics. The problem worsened to the point that an open water swimming training session had to be cancelled on Tuesday, the fifth time this has happened during the competition.

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