American triathlon competitor Seth Rider has been working hard to prepare for the Olympics in Paris this summer. However, due to a catastrophic failure by the country of France, his training regimen required more than just biking, running, swimming and weightlifting.
The 27-year-old triathlete stopped washing his hands after using the toilet.
Rider’s unusual tactic is a direct attempt to make himself vulnerable to as much E. coli bacteria as possible. Seriously! He is doing so in preparation for his dip in the the Seine, if it even happens.
It has been illegal to swim in the Seine river basin for more than 120 years. Heavy rains overwhelm Paris’ infrastructure and literal sewage leaks into the water. The feces in the water carries bacteria, which creates unsafe conditions.
France spent $1.5 billion to try and clean the Seine before the Olympics. Efforts were an epic failure.
Water quality in/of the Seine rarely passed any of the necessary tests before the Opening Ceremonies on Friday. Conditions are even worse this week than they were last. As a result, open water swim practice was cancelled on Sunday and Monday. The men’s triathlon was postponed from Tuesday to Wednesday in the middle of the night, which infuriated the athletes and left them to feel exploited as “puppets.”
To make matters worse, it seems highly unlikely that competition will take place as scheduled on Wednesday, which means that competition would be bumped to Friday. And that also seems improbable, which means that the Olympic triathlon would be cut to a duathlon— just biking and running.
All because of E. coli!
This is where Rider’s training comes into the picture. He is ready to compete after months of intentional bacteria exposure.
“We know that there’s going to be some E. coli exposure, so I just try to increase my E. coli threshold by exposing myself to a bit of E. coli in your day-to-day life.
It’s actually backed by science. Proven methods. Just little things throughout your day, like, not washing your hands after you go to the bathroom and stuff like this.”
— Seth Rider
It would be a real shame if Seth Rider’s unsanitary habits went to waste, pun intended. Let’s hope that the Olympics figures this out before Friday and allow the triathletes to compete in the triathlon!