Athletes Battle Heat and Water Quality Concerns Lead to Race Delays

The 2020 Olympic champion in the event, Wellbrock, described the race as a challenging one. He noted that the water temperature was exceptionally high, possibly the warmest he had ever competed in. Wellbrock attributed his success to dedicated heat training in preparation for the event. This victory marked his third open water world title, following wins in 2019 and 2023.

Kristof Rasovszky, the reigning champion and 2024 Olympics champion in the event, echoed the sentiment, calling it one of the most difficult races he's experienced. He cited the heat and choppy conditions as significant factors. Rasovszky emphasized that the challenging conditions were the same for all competitors, highlighting the unpredictable nature of open water swimming, where athletes must be prepared for various conditions.

Artyom Lukasevits from Singapore, who finished as the best-placed Southeast Asian competitor, also pointed to the difficulty of the course. He mentioned the combination of heat, choppy waters, and the intensity of the competition as contributing factors. He described the race as one of the hottest ever, where athletes were intensely focused on the challenge.

The women’s 10km race was initially postponed due to water quality concerns. Organizers cited unacceptable levels of water quality based on samples taken earlier. The race was initially rescheduled for Wednesday morning.

World Aquatics later confirmed that elevated levels of E. coli bacteria were the cause of the postponement. The source of the contamination was still under investigation. E. coli bacteria, commonly found in the intestines of humans and animals, can cause symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea if ingested.

Despite improvements in water quality, further tests still showed levels exceeding acceptable thresholds. As a result, both the men's and women's 10km races were postponed to the afternoon of Wednesday.