Rio's scrutinised waters take Belgian sailor as first 'victim'
Rio's heavily polluted waters have claimed their first "victim" - a Belgian female sailor who won a bronze medal at the London 2012 Olympics Games.
Evi Van Acker is the first reported sailor to fall sick from the Olympic city's troubled waters, developing symptoms after Wednesday's races in the heavily polluted Guanabara Bay.
Rio's highly scrutinised waters have claimed their first victim, Belgian sailor
Evi Van Acker. Photo: AP/regorio Borgia
Belgium's Evi Van Acker competes during the Laser Radial women's event at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Photo: AP/regorio Borgia
Van Acker's coach, Wil Van Bladel, believes she contracted a severe intestinal infection while training in Rio de Janeiro in July.
"Evi caught a bacteria in early July that causes dysentery," Van Bladel told told Belgian VRT.
"Doctors say this can seriously disrupt energy levels for three months. It became clear yesterday that she lacked energy during tough conditions.
"The likelihood that she caught it here during contact with the water is very big."
It is believed her poor performances have put her at risk of missing out on a medal in the Laser Radial class.
Fishermen protest against the pollution in the Guanabara bay, in Rio de Janeiro. Photo: AP/Silvia Izquierdo
For a while, fishermen have been asking for better working conditions and protesting against the dirty waters of Guanabara. Photo: AP
Rio officials have acknowledged a legitimate cleanup will take 20 years - organisers promised to do it for the Olympics - with the city still pouring at least half of its untreated sewage into surrounding waters.
World Sailing spokesman Darryl Seibel said Van Acker's case appears to be isolated and she is the only sailor who has reported feeling ill in the opening days of the regatta.
Van Acker had a "serious gastrointestinal infection a few weeks ago," the Belgian Olympic Committee said in a statement.
"She has not fully recovered. It makes it difficult for her to go through long periods of sustained effort."
The committee said a physiologist is working with Van Acker leading to the next races Friday "so she can get the most out of her energy reserves".
This is a sickening image of sewage moving into the canals near the Olympic Park in Rio. Photo: AP
A doll, bottles and dirty debris are carried by the tide and caught by the “eco-barrier” . Photo: Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP
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An independent study by The Associated Press has shown high levels of viruses in the water as well as bacteria from human sewage.
Olympic officials have insisted that sailing on the sprawling bay is safe, and sailing officials have said competitors have taken precautions.
Even Brazilian sailors have said there's no danger - at least for those who compete there regularly.
German sailor Erik Heil, however, was treated for several infections he said were caused by polluted water during a Rio test regatta a year ago.
