The Paris 2024 Olympics featured a number of firsts for the Games, including the return of the iconic Seine River swimming event that debuted at the 1900 Paris Olympics. But many swimmers were not thrilled with the idea of competing in a polluted city river, including American athlete Katie Grimes.
Grimes, who won silver in the women's 400m medley, described her experience in a new interview TMZThe 18-year-old phenom took to the Seine River in the women's marathon 10-kilometer final and ultimately finished 15th.pearl.
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“The river was definitely a challenge. I've never had to swim a current like that before. But it was a historic race and something I'll never forget,” he said. Still, just because it was a memorable time doesn't mean he wants to repeat it. “I hope I never have to go in the river again, but it was a lot of fun.”
“I was a little nervous going in, just hoping I wouldn’t get sick,” he admitted. “But to be honest I didn’t think about it once while I was racing and I didn’t get sick at all afterwards, so I’m really grateful.”
He was certainly lucky, as other Olympic swimmers who swam in the Seine River either threw up or were hospitalized.
Ultimately, even though swimming in the river wasn't exactly ideal, Grimes did take his hat — or rather, his swim cap — off to the City of Light: “Paris did a great job putting on the Olympics, and it was a lot of fun.”
It's not like Grimes will be swimming in the Los Angeles River in 2028.