World Aquatics Championships: E. coli bacteria to blame for postponed Sentosa open water race

Hours before the event was due to begin on Tuesday, it was announced that the race would be postponed as water quality levels failed to meet “acceptable thresholds”, organisers said.

In a press release in the early hours of Tuesday, World Aquatics announced that the decision was made in the “utmost interest of athlete safety”.

The race, which was planned for 8am on Tuesday, is now scheduled for 10.15am on Wednesday. Singapore Olympian Chantal Liew and youngster Kate Ona were scheduled to compete in the race.

The decision followed a review involving representatives from World Aquatics, the Singapore 2025 Organising Committee, the World Aquatics Sports Medicine Committee and the World Aquatics Open Water Swimming Technical Committee, said World Aquatics.

“While testing in recent days has consistently shown water quality at the venue to meet World Aquatics’ acceptable thresholds, analysis of samples taken on Jul 13 surpassed these thresholds,” said the sport’s governing body in a press release.

“The decision to postpone racing was made in the best interests of athlete health and safety, which remains World Aquatics and the Singapore 2025 Organising Committee’s top priority.”

National head coach Gary Tan said he and his athletes were informed of the postponement at about 11.45pm on Monday.

“Our team promptly communicated the update to the affected athletes and worked with them on next steps,” he said.

Mr Tan, who is also the performance director of swimming at Singapore Aquatics, said postponements were not uncommon in international open water swimming competitions.

“Our athletes are well accustomed to managing such changes. They remain in good spirits, and while the race will now take place at a later time slot, they have trained under similar conditions and are well prepared to adapt.”

World Aquatics said earlier that subsequent water samples and water quality review sessions will continue to take place at the competition venue, during which World Aquatics and the organising committee will determine whether conditions are safe to proceed with the event on a later date.

“World Aquatics regrets the inconvenience caused by the postponement and acknowledges the commitment and preparation of all athletes, coaches, and teams,” said the authority.

At last year’s Paris Olympics, pollution in the Seine after heavy rains caused the men’s triathlon race to be postponed for a day, after swimming practice sessions were cancelled two days in a row.