A Team USA triathlete recently made headlines after revealing his unconventional approach to preparing for the Olympics. Seth Rider shared with reporters on July 27 that he intentionally avoided washing his hands after using the bathroom as part of his strategy to increase his body's exposure to E. coli ahead of his planned swim in the River Seine.
Rider explained that he believed exposing himself to a certain level of E. coli in his day-to-day life would help raise his E. coli threshold, thus potentially providing some immunity or resistance during the upcoming race. He cited his previous experience of swimming in the Seine during a triathlon trial last year without falling ill as a basis for his confidence in this approach.
However, the triathlon events faced a setback when the men's race was postponed due to poor water quality in the River Seine. Heavy rains in Paris over the weekend worsened the situation, leading to concerns about the safety of the athletes. The men's triathlon has been rescheduled to take place on Wednesday, while the women's event is still scheduled to proceed as planned on the same day.
The decision to postpone the men's triathlon underscores the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of athletes participating in the Olympics. While athletes often employ various training methods to enhance their performance, prioritizing health and hygiene remains crucial, especially in high-stakes competitions like the Olympics.
