On Tuesday, the Olympics took a peculiar turn when spectators, Olympians, and even officials were left wondering, why was the diving pool now green?
Overnight, the pool at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Center turned from a clear, shimmering blue during Monday’s men’s event to murky green, which only intensified as the women’s diving competition progressed on Tuesday.
The green pool sparked alarm across social media, with everyone from viewers at home to athletes on scene commenting on the mysterious situation.
Though the Rio 2016 team has yet to release an official statement as to what caused the change in water color, the overwhelming consensus from speculators was that algae was to blame. Among other theories, some suggested the green pool was a deliberate hoax from countries where green is the prominent color of the flag, while others thought urine may be to blame.
An American photographer in the press room was quoted by BBC Sport saying, “If you don’t shock the pool water, it turns green. It doesn’t look nice, but it isn’t dangerous.”
With the absence of chlorine, algae can multiply under warm weather conditions like those in Brazil. While the green diving pool provided a less-than-appealing stage for one of the most popular Olympic events, it also made it increasingly difficult for divers to see the bottom of the pool.
A number of athletes, however, claimed the water did not affect their performance. China’s Chen Rolin and Liu Huixia said it barred no hindrance to winning gold, while Mexican diver Paola Espinosa assured the Telegraph the murky water did not illicit an odor or leave her with irritated skin. Stay tuned for an official statement from Rio 2016 on the cause of the green pool, and more from the 2016 Olympics.
