Athletes compete in the Marathon Swimming Women’s 10k on day thirteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Pont Alexandre III on August 08, 2024 in Paris, France. Top swimmers now swear by the beverage, according to athletes from different teams who spoke with.

She told the outlet that since a healthy stomach is more acidic than Coke, the beverage wouldn’t be able to kill off any additional bacteria. “These are young, athletic people,” she explained.

“They’re going to be healthy people whose stomach acid is going to be nice and robust.” Belgian Claire Michel pictured in action during the women’s individual triathlon race at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, on Wednesday 31 July 2024 in Paris, France.

The Games of the XXXIII Olympiad are taking place in Paris from 26 July to 11 August. The Belgian delegation counts 165 athletes competing in 21 sports.

Swimming in the river has largely been prohibited for the last century because the long-polluted river contains bacteria-laden wastewater, creating unsafe levels of E. coli. Others who dove into the waterway admitted they weren’t so sure about competing there.

“I am concerned. I just hope and trust the organization in the sense that they will let us in only when it’s safe enough to do so.

Belgian newspaper De Standaard claimed that the 35-year-old was infected with E. coli.