Due to poor water quality, the first World Cup race of the open water swimmers in Singapore was postponed by one day at short notice. The competition over ten kilometers should take place a day later after the men’s race.
The World Association World Aquatics announced the decision a good seven hours before the original start time in the middle of the night of Singapore.
The displacement was made in the interest of the security of the athletes, the association said. “While the tests have shown again and again in the past few days that the water quality at the venue complies with the limit values defined by World Aquatics, the analyzes of the samples taken on July 13 have exceeded these limit values”it says in a message.
More samples planned
Further water samples are to follow to determine whether the other planned competitions can take place as scheduled. In the night from Tuesday to Wednesday at 1.30 a.m. (CEST), men with Florian Wellbrock and Oliver Klemet are to start with Lea Boy and Jeannette Spiwoks at 4.15 a.m.
After the first training sessions in the sea on the Palawan Beach, national coach Bernd Berkhahn had already said: “Visually, the water is not beautiful. It is not blue and turquoise. We swim very close to the big freighters and the industry.”
“Water not inviting”
The Magdeburg coach had explained: “The water is not so inviting, but of course we rely on the information from the organizer who regularly tests the water. And he says that it is of good quality.” This is no longer the case.
The topic is reminiscent of the Paris Olympic Games. There the water quality of the SEIN had repeatedly caused discussions. Several athletes had reported health problems after their competitions.