Paris Mayor Takes the Plunge in Cleansed Seine

Wednesday 17 July 2024 - 17:20

PARIS (AP) — In a symbolic gesture resonating with the city's aspirations for a greener future, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo took an audacious plunge into the Seine River on Wednesday. Her dive fulfilled a promise to showcase the long-polluted waterway's newfound cleanliness ahead of the rapidly approaching 2024 Olympics. With just nine days until the grand opening ceremony, Hidalgo's daring dip underscored Paris's determination to host swimming competitions and integrate the Seine into the Olympic spectacle.

The decision to immerse herself in the river followed months of rigorous water quality testing. Initial concerns about unsafe levels of E. coli bacteria in early June had threatened this symbolic act. However, recent improvements paved the way for Hidalgo's triumphant dive. Clad in a wetsuit and goggles, she plunged into the Seine near City Hall, her administrative base, and the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral.

Joining Hidalgo in this aquatic celebration were Paris 2024 chief Tony Estanguet, Marc Guillaume (the top government official for the Paris region), and swimmers from local clubs. Together, they embarked on a symbolic 100-meter journey along the river, alternating between crawl and breaststroke techniques.

Emerging from the waters, Hidalgo expressed her exuberance: "The Seine is exquisite! The water is very, very good. A little cool, but not so bad." She further described the day as "a dream" and a testament to the city's ambitious "swimming plan" launched in 2015.

Estanguet, a three-time Olympic gold medalist in canoeing, echoed Hidalgo's sentiments, remarking, "After twenty years of practicing sports in the river, I find it admirable that we are making efforts to clean it up."

The road to this pivotal moment has been paved with substantial investments and concerted efforts. Since 2015, organizers have invested $1.5 billion in preparing the Seine for the Olympics and ensuring Parisians have a cleaner river post-Games. This plan included constructing a massive underground water storage basin in central Paris, renovating sewer infrastructure, and upgrading wastewater treatment plants.

Originally scheduled for June, Hidalgo's swim was postponed due to snap parliamentary elections in France. The initial date sparked a social media frenzy, with the hashtag "jechiedanslaSeine" ("I'm pooping in the Seine") trending as some threatened to protest the Olympics by polluting upstream. Undeterred, Hidalgo entered the river on Wednesday using a ladder set up specifically for the event, under the watchful eye of seven security boats.

Curious spectators lined the upper banks, eager to witness this historic moment. Lucie Coquereau, who woke up early to secure the best vantage point from the Pont de Sully bridge, exclaimed, "I wouldn't have missed that for anything in the world."

Among the athletes invited to test the Seine alongside the Paris mayor was Enzo Gallet, a competitive swimmer who has participated in France's national open-water championships. The 23-year-old, who swam just meters from Hidalgo, remarked, "Her crawl form was pretty good. It's pretty special to be among those who swam in the middle of Paris for the first time in a long, long time."

Even after the officials had departed, the Seine's banks remained alive with swimmers, some playfully tossing balls and others practicing dives from the artificial pond, basking in the festive atmosphere.

Hidalgo's daring dip follows in the footsteps of French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, who swam in the Seine on Saturday, donning a full-body suit.

While concerns over the Seine's flow and pollution levels persist, daily water quality tests conducted by the monitoring group Eau de Paris provide reassurance, with recent results indicating improved conditions.

As the Seine prepares to host several open water swimming events during the Games, including marathon swimming and the swimming legs of the Olympic and Paralympic triathlons, Hidalgo's symbolic immersion stands as a testament to Paris's unwavering commitment to revitalizing its waters and embracing a greener future, one splash at a time.