Paris, August 9 — Two Olympic athletes have reportedly fallen ill after swimming in the River Seine, raising serious concerns about the safety of several upcoming events scheduled to be held in the river during the Paris 2024 Olympics. The athletes, both from Portugal, suffered gastrointestinal infections linked to the river's contaminated water.

The Portuguese Olympic Committee confirmed that athletes Vasco Vilaca and Melanie Santos became ill after participating in the 10 km marathon and triathlon events. According to British media outlet Daily Express, both athletes were seen vomiting after the events, indicating possible exposure to polluted water in the Seine.

The incident has heightened worries about the river's water quality, especially since the Seine was the site of the Olympic opening ceremony earlier this year. Although French authorities had made efforts to clean the river, the Olympic triathlon event scheduled in the Seine was eventually canceled due to pollution concerns.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo had previously attempted to dispel fears about the water's safety by swimming in the river herself. However, the illnesses of Vilaca and Santos suggest that the water remains unsafe, despite her assurances.

This is not the first time the Seine's water quality has been called into question. A century ago, in 1923, swimming in the river was banned due to high levels of bacteria, primarily from human waste. Despite efforts over the past hundred years, the river's pollution problem persists, as evidenced by recent tests that found bacteria in one out of every four water samples taken from the Seine.

As the Paris 2024 Olympics continue, these health scares are likely to prompt further scrutiny of the city's efforts to ensure the safety of athletes and the public in events involving the Seine.