Sick to your stomach: Concern for Hong Kong windsurfing duo as Belgian sailor Evi Van Acker takes ill after racing on polluted bay in Rio de Janeiro
Sonia Lo and Michael Cheng have not fallen despite having competed on the water since Monday
A Belgian woman has become the first Olympic Games competitor to fall ill after sailing the polluted waters of Guanabara Bay, raising concerns for Hong Kong windsurfing duo Sonia Lo Sin-lam and Michael Cheng Chun-leung.
Evi Van Acker, who won a bronze medal in 2012, reported feeling sick after Wednesday’s races, governing body World Sailing said and her poor performances had put her at risk of missing out on a medal in the Laser Radial class.
“Evi caught a bacteria in early July that causes dysentery,” coach Wil Van Bladel said. “Doctors say this can seriously disrupt energy levels for three months. It became clear yesterday that she lacked energy during tough conditions. She could not use full force for a top condition. The likelihood that she caught it here during contact with the water is very big.”
The poor quality of Guanabara Bay was at the forefront of the build-up to the Olympics, with an independent study by The Associated Press showing high levels of viruses in the water as well as bacteria from human sewage.
Hong Kong’s Lo and Cheng began competing on Monday and had a rest day on Wednesday. They resumed their attempt to make the medal race in the RS:X on Thursday.