Open Water Swimmer Leonie Beck Experiencing GI Symptoms After Women’s 10km In Seine

Leonie Beck of Germany is already experiencing complications from the women’s open water swim, posting to Instagram that she has already vomited nine times and has also experienced diarrhea.

The women’s open water race in Paris took place Thursday. Beck was one of 24 women to dive in the Seine River for the women’s 10 km event. She finished 9th in a time of 2:06:13.4, finishing less than three minutes behind Sharon van Rouwendaal of the Netherlands who won gold in a 2:03:34.2.

Beck notably won gold in the women’s 10km open water event at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka. She also won silver in the women’s 10km at the 2022 World Championships.

Beck said on her Instagram story “vomited 9 times yesterday + diarrhea” and “water quality in the Seine is approved.”

The water quality of the Seine came into concern in both the lead-up to the Paris Olympics as well as during potential training sessions and competitions in the last two weeks. Over a billion euros were spent on the cleaning of the river in hopes of its ability to host the competitions. Swimming in the river was banned since 1923. In late June, the river failed a water quality test as it reported E. Coli levels that were 10x above the acceptable limit.

Training sessions were canceled for both triathlon athletes and open water athletes during the last two weeks. The men’s triathlon was postponed to be on the same day as the women’s triathlon due to poor water quality.

Victor Johansson of Sweden opted to scratch the men’s open water 10km race after doctor’s recommendations due to water quality concerns.