Cassandre Beaugrand of France won the women’s Olympic triathlon on Wednesday, swimming across the River Seine, which was under scrutiny for water quality, and navigating slippery roads that turned the cycling portion into a series of spills.
PARIS– Cassandre Beaugrand of France won the women’s Olympic triathlon on Wednesday, crossing a River Seine that was under scrutiny for water quality and navigating slippery roads that turned the cycling portion into a series of spills.
Beaugrand finished the race at the top of the Pont Alexandre III bridge and fell to the ground in exhaustion and joy. It was on top of the “Paris 2024” logo, with a local crowd cheering it on. Her time of 1 hour, 54 minutes and 55 seconds beat Julie Derron of Switzerland by six seconds. Beth Potter of Great Britain won bronze.
The men’s race was scheduled to start about an hour after the women’s arrival. It was originally supposed to take place on Tuesday, but was postponed due to high levels of bacteria in the water. Organizers said on Wednesday that the latest tests of the water showed compliance with quality standards.
Holding the race on Paris’ famous waterway was part of an ambitious plan to clean up the long-polluted Seine. Organizers have been steadfast in their insistence that the swimming portion of the triathlon and next week’s marathon swim can be held safely on the river.
A steady rain eased just before the triathletes plunged into the water.
___
This story originally appeared on ABCNews.go.com read the full story
