It’s going to take more than a stinky river to stop Matthew Hauser from competing in Paris.
There have been fears that triathlon events could be postponed or reduced to a duathlon (cycling and running) for the first time in Olympic history if the water quality in France’s most famous river doesn’t improve, but if the Seine is deemed safe to swim, Hauser said there was no stopping him.
Matthew Hauser won bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.Credit: Getty
“We’ll see what happens on the day, I guess. To be honest, for me, I’d swim in anything to try and get a medal,” he said. “Give me a swig of Coca-Cola and some Gastro-Stop tablets and just put me in there.”
“Obviously, the race organisers and World Triathlon have our safety and interest at heart, and they’ll be doing all they can to ensure that that is the case, but I’ve got no doubt that no one would hesitate to jump into the water.”
More than €1.4 billion ($2.3 billion) has been invested in multiple projects in a bid to hold swimming races in the river for the first time since the 1900 Olympics.
Hauser, Australia’s top-ranked triathlete, said the course was unique because it incorporates so many of the city’s most iconic landmarks.
Matthew Hauser in the mixed relay at the Commonwealth Games.Credit: Getty
“It’s a super quick course, there are some cobbles on the Champs-Elysees – a trademark for Paris I guess, it’s such an iconic strip of road,” he said.
“The Tour de France rides on there, and we’re going to be riding there come July, so it’s going to be pretty special. But, it obviously offers a different dynamic to the racing, so things like tyre choice and width, and tyre pressure will come into factor there. It will be a super quick course.”
