A triathlete from Carmarthen, Andrew Jones, became "very sick" and was hospitalised after contracting Campylobacter from swimming in "dirty" open water. Mr Jones reported that his temperature and heart rate increased, and he experienced uncontrollable shaking, leading to an emergency admission just over a week before a major race.
In response, Triathlon Cymru has launched its 'Safer Blue Spaces' project, in partnership with Swim Wales, Bangor University, and Imperial College London. This initiative uses small sampling devices, about the size of a fifty-pence piece, attached to triathletes' wetsuits to test water quality in Wales.
The new devices aim to provide more accurate data compared to traditional methods, which typically involve collecting samples at one or two locations shortly before a race. These devices follow the swimmers' exact route, offering detailed information on water conditions. The project is funded by the insurance group Admiral.
Amy Jenner, Triathlon Cymru's head of development, stated that knowing what is in the water is crucial for the organisation, given approximately 60 events are held annually across Wales. The collected data will be shared with athletes, event organisers, National Resource Wales, and Public Health Wales.
Kate Herridge, a PhD student involved in the project, explained that the next step is to concentrate the water samples from the devices to identify any pathogens. Triathlon Cymru hopes to share this data with environmental agencies and water companies in the future to improve water quality in seas, lakes, and rivers.