The World Triathlon Championship Series encountered an unexpected issue last weekend in Sunderland when a large number of participants reported experiencing symptoms like diarrhea. Reports suggest that at least 57 individuals were affected. According to the BBC, tests conducted on July 26 revealed high levels of E. coli in the water. It is important to note that approximately 2,000 people took part in the swimming, running, and cycling events alongside the sixth race of the World Triathlon Championship Series.
The British Triathlon organization stated that the testing for E. coli on July 26 was conducted “outside of the Roker Pier arms” and not in the actual swimming area. However, previous and subsequent tests conducted on July 25 and 30 met the required standards for hosting the event. Australian athlete Jake Birtwhistle, who currently holds the 35th position in the World Triathlon Series rankings, revealed in an Instagram post that he had been feeling unwell since the race and jokingly mentioned that it might be due to swimming in less than ideal conditions. He also expressed his opinion that the swimming portion of the race should have been cancelled.
The swimming event took place at Roker Beach, and The Guardian reported that the participants were unaware of the E. coli testing results prior to the event. The cause of the reported vomiting and diarrhea is still being investigated. The UK Health Security Agency stated that they will conduct an investigation into the cases of gastroenteritis reported and will use a detailed questionnaire to gather more information on the possible source of the illness. They will also test stool samples to determine the cause of the illness and identify any common pathogens involved.
The final races of the 2023 World Triathlon Championship Series will be held in Pontevedra, Spain, from September 23-24. The previous races took place in Abu Dhabi, Yokohama, Cagliari, and Hamburg. The Sunderland event was won by French athlete Pierre Le Corre.
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