Paris 2024: First and last 10k for Daniel Wiffen? ... maybe not

And so we made our way to the Pont Alexandre III bridge for the men's 10km open-water on the River Seine.

It was an early start and one had risen just as dawn had passed. A few stops on the Metro 1 line brought us to the Franklin D Roosevelt stop.

Emerging up onto the street, you were struck by how clean the pathways, buildings and shop fronts, looked. Looking as far north the eye would allow, the boutiques and restaraunts boasted a prestined decor. You would like to keep admiring but the business of the day was in the opposite direction.

Upon arrival in the press section overlooking the Pont Alexandre, the participants were making their way down to the start. Among them was Daniel Wiffen, competing in his third event at these Games, this after winning gold in the 800m and bronze in the 1500m.

From the indoor thrill ride that was the La Défense Arena, now it was an encounter with the much-maligned Seine. A fortune was spent making sure it was clean. Politicians had a dip, pre-Games, to test its worthiness. The women's 10k took place on Thursday; there were no complaints. However, Sweden's Victor Johansson voiced concerns about the water quality and did not partake, as did Ahmed Jaouadi from Tunisia, though reasons for his non-participation were not clear

And so the hooter sounded to send the 29 male competitors on their way. Certainly, not a crowded field for this event, where six laps of 1.6km are swam, with the finish line also at the Pont Alexandre.

The current is with the field as they swim the first half of each lap and against them on the way back. Like a jockey might favour hogging the inside rail, the field soon favoured one side of the river, close to the wall.

In watching the big screen, following live feeds on your