Olympic swimmers turned to Coca-Cola for protection against bacteria in the Seine River
9 august 2024 в 04:13
Olympic swimmers who swam in the Seine River turned to the official partner of the Games, Coca-Cola, to protect themselves from infection with bacteria in the water.
Top swimmers now swear by this drink, according to statements from athletes from different teams who spoke with The Wall Street Journal.
«There's no harm in drinking Coke after a race», - said New Zealand triathlete Ainslie Thorpe. «If you look on the internet, it says it can help».
«The myth of Coca-Cola is true», - said Moesha Johnson from the Australian team. «We often drink Coke after a race to try to wash everything out from inside us».
Johnson mentioned that this decision was not her own idea, saying, «I just do what the professionals around me tell me to do».
Although the theory that Coca-Cola may be beneficial for the stomach is supported by the best of the best, American Gastroenterological Association President Dr. Maria Abreu is not so inclined to agree. She said that since a healthy stomach is more acidic than Coke, the drink will not be able to destroy additional bacteria.
«These are young, athletic people», - she explained. «They will have a healthy stomach with strong acidity».
The water quality in the Seine has long been a concern in Paris. Swimming in the river has mostly been prohibited for the past century due to long-term pollution of the river with bacterial sewage, creating unsafe levels of E. coli.
Although the World Aquatics Association guaranteed that the quality meets acceptable standards for disease-causing bacteria, swimmers are taking extra precautions to avoid unforeseen problems.
Bronze medalist Daniel Wiffen from Ireland, who won gold in the 800-meter freestyle, said he will not train in the Seine beforehand: «I don’t want to encounter any diseases». He added that he would prefer to «feel it out» at the competition, opting for pools.
Others who have plunged into the water admitted they are not sure about participating there.
«I think if someone says they’re not worried at all, they’re probably lying», - shared Austrian Felix Obek. «I'm worried. I just hope and trust the organization in the sense that they will only let us in when it’s safe enough. But of course, you worry because no one wants to get sick».
The Belgian Olympic Committee (COIB) withdrew from the mixed triathlon relay after Claire Michel, who swam in the Seine last week, fell ill. The Belgian newspaper De Standaard claimed that the 35-year-old woman was infected with E. coli
Top swimmers now swear by this drink, according to statements from athletes from different teams who spoke with The Wall Street Journal.
«There's no harm in drinking Coke after a race», - said New Zealand triathlete Ainslie Thorpe. «If you look on the internet, it says it can help».
«The myth of Coca-Cola is true», - said Moesha Johnson from the Australian team. «We often drink Coke after a race to try to wash everything out from inside us».
Johnson mentioned that this decision was not her own idea, saying, «I just do what the professionals around me tell me to do».
Although the theory that Coca-Cola may be beneficial for the stomach is supported by the best of the best, American Gastroenterological Association President Dr. Maria Abreu is not so inclined to agree. She said that since a healthy stomach is more acidic than Coke, the drink will not be able to destroy additional bacteria.
«These are young, athletic people», - she explained. «They will have a healthy stomach with strong acidity».
The water quality in the Seine has long been a concern in Paris. Swimming in the river has mostly been prohibited for the past century due to long-term pollution of the river with bacterial sewage, creating unsafe levels of E. coli.
Although the World Aquatics Association guaranteed that the quality meets acceptable standards for disease-causing bacteria, swimmers are taking extra precautions to avoid unforeseen problems.
Bronze medalist Daniel Wiffen from Ireland, who won gold in the 800-meter freestyle, said he will not train in the Seine beforehand: «I don’t want to encounter any diseases». He added that he would prefer to «feel it out» at the competition, opting for pools.
Others who have plunged into the water admitted they are not sure about participating there.
«I think if someone says they’re not worried at all, they’re probably lying», - shared Austrian Felix Obek. «I'm worried. I just hope and trust the organization in the sense that they will only let us in when it’s safe enough. But of course, you worry because no one wants to get sick».
The Belgian Olympic Committee (COIB) withdrew from the mixed triathlon relay after Claire Michel, who swam in the Seine last week, fell ill. The Belgian newspaper De Standaard claimed that the 35-year-old woman was infected with E. coli
© Smirnova Olga
