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Canadian runner Tyler Mislawchuk throws up after swimming in the River Seine during Olympic triathlon

profilephotocropby:Suzanne Halliburton•07/31/24•

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Andrew Nelles-USA TODAY Sports

Canadian Tyler Mislawchuk threw up at the finish line of Wednesday’s men’s Olympic Triathlon. And cameras in Paris captured it all.

The men started the triathlon by doing the swimming leg in the Seine. Olympic organizers already had postponed the event by a day because of concerns about the water quality in the Seine, the river which runs through the most scenic parts of Paris. It was a huge focus of the Opening Ceremonies, but water tests showed that it wasn’t safe for humans to compete in it later in the week as part of the triathlon.

But the triathlon received the green light from Olympic organizers in time for the race to start.

Mislawchuk got sick at the finish line. And of course, social media was there to capture the moment. After the race, he said he vomited 10 times. But he was well enough to talk to the Canadian media.

“I didn’t come here to come top 10 but I gave it everything I had,” Mislawchuk told reporters. “I went for it, I have no regrets – vomited 10 times.”

And he finished ninth.

The Olympic triathlon requires competitors to swim, bike and run. Wednesday’s course saw participants first swim a near mile in the Seine. Then they hopped on their bikes for a 25-mile trek, If that wasn’t enough, the competitors finished with a 6.2 mile run.

Plus, temperatures weren’t terrific for such an event. The temps were about 86 degrees when the triathlon started. On Tuesday, Paris was sizzling, with temps in the high 90s.

Great Britain’s Alex Yee won gold. He made a dramatic comeback to make up a 50-meter gap and pass New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde, who was ahead of the pack after two laps on the running course. Leo Bergere of France earned bronze. An exhausted Wilde collapsed at the finish and Yee comforted him.

The women’s triathlon started before the men’s event. France’s Cassandre Beaugrand won gold, with Switzerland’s Julie Derron and Great Britain’s Beth Potter joining her on the podium.