• Loading stock data...
Thursday, October 30, 2025
Want a chance to win $250 and free FOS gear? Take our quick reader survey. Take the survey here

The Paris Olympics $1.5 Billion Seine Cleanup Yields Mixed Results

  • Open-water swimming events at the Olympics concluded Friday.
  • No competitions were canceled despite questions about water quality.
Grace Hollars-USA TODAY Sports

The final open-water swimming competition of the Paris Olympics concluded Friday, bringing an end to a tumultuous, dramatic, and expensive saga.

The city of Paris spent $1.5 billion to clean up the Seine river, which ultimately hosted five events during the Games despite questions about water quality and its safety for swimming. But that exorbitant expense wasn’t enough to quell disruptions.

Pollution in the Seine, particularly E. coli levels, has fluctuated throughout the Olympics, in large part due to heavy rainfall before and during the Games. And while no competitions were canceled, several practice sessions were called off, and the men’s triathlon was delayed one day.

Mixed Results

Hungary’s Kristóf Rasovszky won the gold medal in the men’s 10-kilometer marathon swimming event that took place in the iconic river Friday after Dutch swimmer Sharon van Rouwendaal won the women’s event Thursday. Ahead of the men’s competition, Sweden’s Victor Johansson dropped out, claiming the Seine’s river quality had made him sick.

On Monday, Germany won gold in the triathlon mixed relay after Belgium pulled out of the competition because one of its team members got sick. At the time, it was believed Claire Michel fell ill from swimming in the Seine during the women’s triathlon, but it was later determined to be a virus.

Last week, Great Britain’s Alex Yee won the men’s triathlon, but only after the event was pushed back one day to July 31 because of poor water quality when the Seine was tested the day before. France’s Cassandre Beaugrand won the women’s triathlon, which went ahead as scheduled July 31.

Swimming in L.A.

In 2028, open-water swimming at the Los Angeles Olympics is set to take place at Long Beach. The venue will span 11 miles of waterways connected to more than 5 miles of sandy beaches.

The most recent budget projections for the entire Los Angeles Games have come in around $7 billion, compared to potentially $10 billion for the Paris Olympics, once the final numbers come in.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Terry Rozier

NBA Union Says It Will Fight Decision to Withhold Rozier’s Pay

Rozier has one year and $26.3 million left on his contract.

Mavericks Accuse Stars of Holding Dallas Arena ‘Hostage’ in Lawsuit

The NBA team seized control of a joint company operating the American Airlines Center.
Oct 26, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards forward Marvin Bagley III (35) and forward Kyshawn George (18) talk after a turnover against the Charlotte Hornets during the third quarter at Capital One Arena.
exclusive

Wizards Hire Ex-ESPN Editor Cristina Daglas for Front Office Role

ESPN placed Cristina Daglas on administrative leave in January.

Featured Today

September 21, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell before the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium

NFL Fall Meeting: 7 Big Topics Among Team Owners 

Media, facilities, and labor highlight some of the key areas of concern.
Ohio State Buckeyes running back Isaiah West (32) runs the ball in the second half at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin
October 25, 2025

NIL Has Birthed a Third-Party Cottage Industry—and It’s a Mess

There’s no limit to how much players can make from NIL deals.
Christie's
October 21, 2025

Lou Gehrig’s $4M Jersey and the Exploding Sports Memorabilia Market

An ultra-rare sports collection is about to hit the auction block.
@chef__tezz/Instagram
October 19, 2025

Inside the NFL’s Private Chef Network

Private chefs are the unsung architects of player performance.

$100M Browns Stadium Settlement Still Faces Cleveland City Hurdles

Cleveland’s city council must still approve the pact with the Browns.
October 21, 2025

Jazz to Get New Training Facility on Same Campus As Mammoth

The company is developing a sports campus in Sandy, Utah.
Joey Bosa
October 22, 2025

Joey Bosa’s L.A. Home for Sale for $3.7 Million

The Bills defensive end purchased the home last July.
Sponsored

Why Alexis Ohanian Is Betting Big on Women’s Sports

Alexis Ohanian reflects on his evolution from Reddit cofounder to one of today’s most dynamic sports investors.
October 16, 2025

Steelers’ Shared Stadium With Pitt Comes Under Fire for Bad Turf

The conditions at Acrisure Stadium have been subpar this season.
October 15, 2025

Bears Hit Another Speed Bump for New $5B Stadium in Suburbs

A new state bill would impose several conditions on the NFL team.
October 13, 2025

Browns, Cleveland Reach $100M Deal to Clear Team’s Move to Suburbs

The surprise truce includes financial payments and the dismissal of lawsuits.
Nov 17, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Detailed view of a Cleveland Browns helmet on a time out against the New Orleans Saints during the first half at Caesars Superdome.
October 7, 2025

Cleveland Takes New Shot at Blocking Browns’ $2.4B Stadium

A new lawsuit challenges a permit for the NFL team’s planned stadium.