The 20-year-old was critical already before the summer Olympic Games that the organizer had chosen to place the triathlon's initial swimming stage in the Seine River in Paris.
She had previously fallen ill after competing in dirty water. The water quality of the Seine was not approved for competition on Tuesday, when the men's race was postponed, but on Wednesday, the organizer gave the green light.
You feel that the quality is not that great. It's brown and it smells awful. We'll see if you get sick. Tomorrow or tomorrow evening, you'll feel if you're unwell. It's like fifty-fifty, says Tilda Månsson and is critical of how the entire arrangement is handled.
"Pretty bad"
It's sad, pretty bad if you're going to be honest. You've known that the Olympic Games would be here for several years.
In total, the Paris Olympic Games have invested over 16 billion kronor to make the Seine suitable for swimming. Norwegian Kristian Blummenfelt, gold medalist in the 2021 Olympic Games and 12th place in Wednesday's men's race, is also critical.
When we look back, it's been a little project that has literally gone and messed itself up, he says according to NTB.
Tilda Månsson is also skeptical of the Olympic organizer's measurements of water quality, which were made early in the morning on the day of the competition. It had rained in Paris during the night, which can flush sewage water into the river. In a competition report, it stated that the water quality 60 minutes before the start was, simply put, "good."
Many bloody
After swimming in the flowing water, there was a dramatic cycling event with several crashes resulting in bloodshed. Four people did not complete the race, including Norwegian Lotte Miller, who crashed in a curve. Månsson was also close to crashing on the wet cobblestones.
It was a close call. I've never experienced such a tough bike ride, she says.
Norwegian teammate Solveig Lovseth says that crashes happen, it's tight. Some curves are paved, like a 180-degree turn on Champs-Élysées – others not.
It's risky on slippery roads. I don't know exactly what they could have done. It's like they should have moved the entire arena, says Lovseth.
Månsson finally crossed the finish line as 23rd. Cassandre Beaugrand, France, won.
