Parisians swim in the Seine after century-old ban lifted

Cheers of “It is warm!” rang out across the Seine yesterday morning as Parisians legally plunged into the river for the first time in more than a century.

- TOM NOUVIAN

Public swimming was permitted in designated zones, including two newly constructed wooden decks near the Eiffel Tower and the Ile Saint-Louis (Island in the Seine) in central Paris. Before sunrise, a municipal officer meticulously skimmed away the last patches of algae. Soon after, eager Parisians, towels in hand, queued for their long-awaited dip. Woos and cries of joy echoed across the riverbanks as the first swimmers entered the emerald-green water.

Every swimmer wore a bright yellow lifebuoy tied around their waist, part of strict safety measures enforced by a dozen lifeguards in high-visibility vests. The current was weak, just enough to tug gently at their limbs - a reminder that this is still a living, urban river.