Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo took a dip in the Seine River to prove its cleanliness ahead of the Olympic Games, starting from July 26, following concerns suggesting the rising levels of E.boli bacteria.

Hidalgo took to the waters wearing a swimming costume and goggles near the City Hall, her office, and the Notre Dame Cathedral. She was accompanied by Paris 2024 chief Tony Estanguet and the top government official for the host city, Marc Guillaume, along with the top swimmers from a local club.

“The Seine is exquisite,” said Hidalgo from the water. After emerging, she continued to rave, “The water is very, very good. A little cool, but not so bad.’’

The group swam for about 100 metres switching between breaststroke and crawl amid spectators crowded on the upper banks.

The Seine River will be a part of the lavish open-air ceremony, including the athletes’ parade,  that will kick off on July 26. The water quality level had proved to be contaminated in June, which led up to the recent improvements.

“I wouldn’t have missed that for anything in the world,” said Lucie Coquereau.

Incidentally, French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra had took to the Seine on Saturday with the Paris Mayor following the suit.