Two New Zealand triathletes, including silver medallist Hayden Wilde, fell ill with E. coli after swimming in the River Seine last week. The illness affected their preparation for the Olympic team event, in which they finished 14th due to Wilde’s early crash.
The Belgian team also had to withdraw from the team event because their athlete, Claire Michel, fell ill. The Belgian Olympic Committee emphasized the need to learn from this incident for future events.
New Zealand’s team leader, Nigel Avery, revealed that the triathlon team kept the illness quiet to avoid giving an advantage to rivals. Avery assured that World Triathlon and the Olympic organizers prioritized athlete health, with extensive water testing conducted before the event.
Despite winning a silver medal in the individual event, Wilde faced both illness and a nose injury in Paris. He crashed early in the team event after a collision with a French cyclist, leading to New Zealand’s 14th place finish.
Germany won gold in the event, followed by the USA in second and Great Britain in third.