Team South Africa’s Vicky van der Merwe says the swim leg of the women’s triathlon at the Paris Olympic Games was “tough” after she finished 46th in the event on Wednesday.
Van der Merwe finished more than 10 minutes behind the gold medal winner Cassandre Beaugrand of France after the event finally began in the Seine River after days of suspense over whether the river would be clean enough for the athletes.
Beaugrand, 27, triumphed after a remarkable bunched finish, opening up a gap in the late stages of the run from Switzerland's Julie Derron, who won silver, and Britain's Beth Potter in third.
All three top finishers crossed the line within 15 seconds of each other, with France's Emma Lombardi missing out narrowly on the podium.
Your @Paris2024 @Olympics Triathlon course map - she’s a beauty.
— World Triathlon (@worldtriathlon) July 31, 2024
🏊![CDATA[]]>🏻♀️ 1500m swim
(Lap 1: 910m Lap 2: 590m)
🚴![CDATA[]]>🏼 40km bike (7laps)
🏃![CDATA[]]>🏼♀️ 10km run (4laps)
8am is GO time for the women
Buckle up! pic.twitter.com/84o0qBeMTc
World Triathlon and the Paris Games organising committee announced around 4am on Wednesday that the women's race would go ahead after water tests revealed that bacterial pollution had fallen to acceptable levels in the Seine.
Rain fell overnight in Paris, but had stopped by the time athletes jumped off a pontoon laid over the river at the historic Alexandre III bridge in the heart of the city.
“For me it was a tough day, I literally almost died in that swim,” Van der Merwe said after the race.
“For all of us it was very uncertain what was going to happen. It’s not conditions that we are used to and it’s definitely a first for a lot of athletes.
“I 100 percent prepared like it was going to happen. Us South Africans are really good adapting to the circumstances.”
Van der Merwe was handed a penalty during the race, but she’s still not sure what it was for. However, she will cherish the experience forever.
“When I got to my bike after the swim it was on the ground. Not sure if it was for that,” Van der Merwe said.
“A tough day for me, but I’m just happy that I could keep on fighting until the end. I managed to pass a few girls in the run, but that swim really was tough and I did the best I could.
“It’s definitely not the result that I trained for and hoped for. But the experience was incredible and the crowds were incredible.”
Additional reporting by AFP
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