Russian doctor Andrei Kondrakhin described the potential consequences of swimming in the Seine River to French officials. According to Kondrakhin's statements as reported by the "360" website, the development of microorganisms in the water accelerates in summer. The Russian doctor explained, "Warm water contains more decaying products, thus the risk of people being exposed to microorganisms is high." He added that the consequences of being in dirty water can be extremely serious, even fatal. The doctor stated, "A non-athletic person is at risk of developing intestinal infections, especially with heavy physical activity on an empty stomach."
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo fulfilled a promise she made in January to swim in the Seine River yesterday, just nine days before the opening of the 2024 Olympics, in an attempt to prove that the river is safe for competitions. She was accompanied by Tony Estanguet, head of the Olympic organizing committee, and just a few days earlier, French Minister of Sports Amélie Oudéa-Castéra also swam in the Seine River.
