France's Beaugrand and Britain's Yee win Olympic triathlon after concerns about Seine water quality

PARIS (AP) — One triathlon race had the rain-slickened streets. The other had the heat.

Both had the scenery and, of course, the Seine.

After a couple of canceled swim practices and a delay because of the river's water quality, the women's and men's Olympic triathlon races finished Wednesday in spectacular fashion — on the Pont Alexandre III bridge spanning the famed waterway with the Eiffel Tower in the background.

“It’s magical,” said newly minted gold medalist Cassandre Beaugrand of France. “It’s the best route we’ve had in a long time and I know all the other athletes feel the same."

Beaugrand captured the women's Olympic triathlon by making her way through a Seine River that was under scrutiny for its water quality and navigating slippery roads that turned the cycling portion into a series of spills following an early morning rain.

On the men’s side, which started less than an hour after the women finished, there was plenty of stifling heat and humidity to deal with as the sun came out in full force. Alex Yee of Britain used a burst at the end to catch and pass Hayden Wilde of New Zealand to win the gold medal by six seconds.

“Everyone suffered in the heat,” Wilde said. “Everyone was in the same position. It was just really nice that we could race a day after the delay and just go with the flow.”

Holding the race in France’s second-longest river was all part of an ambitious plan to clean up the long-polluted Seine. Organizers have been steadfast in their insistence that the swimming portion of the triathlon and the marathon swimming events next week could safely be held in the river.

At times, the athletes had to feel almost like tourists, given the views. They cycled and sprinted past the Grand Palais, along the Champs Élysées and were close to the Arc de Triomphe. An extra loop for cycling took them past the parliament building, the Assemblée Nationale and the Musée d’Orsay.

“We were lucky enough to have probably the most beautiful venue of any race in the Olympics,” Yee said. “I guess that came with the small penalty at the risk of the Seine being dirty.”

The men’s race was originally supposed to take place on Tuesday but got postponed because of elevated levels of bacteria in the water. The organizers said early Wednesday the latest tests of the water showed compliance with quality standards.

“For me, you’ve got to have trust in the organization that they’re going to put you in safe conditions,” said Yee, who won silver at the Tokyo Games. “I’m sure we’ll find out in due time if that’s correct.”

Beaugrand finished the run on top of the bridge and collapsed to the ground in exhaustion and exhilaration. It was on top of the Paris 2024 logo, with a home crowd cheering her on. Her time of 1 hour, 54 minutes, 55 seconds edged Julie Derron of Switzerland by six seconds. Beth Potter of Britain captured bronze.

“To do this in front of our crowd was something that had to be done, and I still can’t believe it,” Beaugrand said.

It was quite a finish in the men's race, too, with Yee summoning every ounce of remaining energy in the extreme heat to surge past Wilde. Leo Bergere earned another medal for France by taking bronze.

“It was just a clean, fair race with the both of us, and I think that's what we're most proud of and most stoked of,” Wilde said of his race with Yee. “It was everything we dreamed of — an epic battle.”

A steady rain subsided just before the women dove into the water. Derron said water quality wasn't on her mind — only a medal.

“I knew it was race day, and I knew what I had to do,” Derron said. "So you don’t have time to focus on anything around that.

"It felt normal. It felt a bit cold, especially because it was raining before the race. So I felt a bit chilly before the start, but the water is just normal water. Of course, the strong current on the way back, that made it harder, but other than that, it’s just normal water.”

The tricky part proved to be on the bike and racing through the wet streets. Romina Biagioli of Argentina fell off her bike on Lap 2, her water bottles rolling away.

“It was a nice course, but with the rain it was dangerous,” she said. “It was nice but dangerous.”

As for swimming in the Seine, Biagioli said she would've preferred more practice time to prepare for its currents.

“I wasn't worried about the pollution,” Biagioli said. “I was worried about how it could affect me not to try it before the race.”

Yee is hopeful this race sparks a Parisian triathlon trend.

“Fair play to France and the government that we’re able to hopefully create a legacy and for that to live on post our race," Yee said. "Hopefully some people watching today can then go and try the sport for the first time in a place where they probably could never before.”

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

Britain's Alex Yee celebrates after winning the gold medal at the end of the men's individual triathlon competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Gold medalist Britain's Alex Yee poses with his parents Emma Amos Yee, left, and Ron Yee, right, at the end of a medal ceremony for the men's individual triathlon competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

France's Leo Bergere lays on the floor at the end of the men's individual triathlon competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

Silver medalist New Zealand's Hayden Wilde, left, gold medalist Britain's Alex Yee, center, and bronze medalist France's Leo Bergere, right, pose for a selfie with their medals during a medal ceremony for the men's individual triathlon competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Gold medalist Britain's Alex Yee bites down on his gold medal at the end of a medal ceremony for the men's individual triathlon competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Britain's Georgia Taylor-Brown competes during the women's individual triathlon competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Athletes dive into the water for the start of the men's individual triathlon competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Athletes dive into the water for the start of the men's individual triathlon competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

France's Cassandre Beaugrand celebrates after winning the gold medal at the end of the women's individual triathlon competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

France's Cassandre Beaugrand celebrates after winning the gold medal at the end of the women's individual triathlon competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

France's Cassandre Beaugrand crosses the finish line to win the gold medal at the end of women's individual triathlon competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

France's Cassandre Beaugrand approaches the finish line to win the gold medal at the end of the women's individual triathlon competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

France's Cassandre Beaugrand leads during the women's individual triathlon at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024 in Paris, France. (Anne-Christine Poujoulat/Pool Photo via AP)

France's Cassandre Beaugrand competes during the women's individual triathlon competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

France's Cassandre Beaugrand leads Julie Derron, of Switzerland during the women's individual triathlon at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024 in Paris, France. (Anne-Christine Poujoulat/Pool Photo via AP)

France's Cassandre Beaugrand leads Julie Derron, of Switzerland during the women's individual triathlon at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024 in Paris, France. (Anne-Christine Poujoulat/Pool Photo via AP)

France's Cassandre Beaugrand, left, Julie Derron, of Switzerland, center, and Britain's Beth Potter right, compete during the women's individual triathlon competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

France's Emma Lombardi, right, hugs France's Cassandre Beaugrand at the end of the women's individual triathlon competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

France's Cassandre Beaugrand celebrates after winning the gold medal at the end of the women's individual triathlon competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

France's Cassandre Beaugrand celebrates after winning the gold medal at the end of the women's individual triathlon competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

Gold medalist Britain's Alex Yee holds the Union Jack at the end of a medal ceremony for the men's individual triathlon competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Andrew Benintendi homered twice for the third time this season and drove in four runs, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Los Angeles Angels 8-4 Monday night for their first three-game winning streak in nearly three months.

“It's been fun to watch. He's on a nice little stretch right now," interim manager Grady Sizemore said about Benintendi, who is 6 for 12 with three homers and six RBIs during the winning streak. “He's doing it against righty's, lefty's. He's coming through for us.”

It is only the fourth time the White Sox have won at least three in a row — and the first since June 27-29, when they beat Atlanta and Colorado. Chicago took two of three from Oakland over the weekend to snap a string of 20 consecutive series losses.

On Tuesday night, Chicago will try to match its season-high winning streak of four, which happened May 8-11 against Tampa Bay and Cleveland.

“The wins have been hard to come by, so when you can get one, you appreciate it. When you get a couple in a row, it’s even better,” Sizemore said. “It was a good atmosphere in the dugout. Guys are happy right now.”

The White Sox are 36-115 with 11 games left and are trying to avoid the post-1900 record of 120 losses by the 1962 expansion New York Mets. Chicago is 16-57 away from home, well off the post-1900 mark of 65 road losses by the 1935 Boston Braves.

“We’re showing up every day, playing our best baseball and one day at a time. I’m not worried about the future,” said first baseman Andrew Vaughn, who had two hits and drove in a pair of runs.

The White Sox took a 3-0 first-inning lead in a matchup of teams with the worst records in the American League. Benintendi hit a two-run shot to right field off Angels starter Reid Detmers (4-7). Two pitches later, Vaughn drove a fastball over the wall in left-center.

It was the fifth time the White Sox hit back-to-back homers, but it was the first since June 13 in Seattle.

In the second inning, Benintendi’s grounder drove in Zach DeLoach to make it 5-0. The left fielder hit his team-leading 19th home run in the seventh inning on a solo shot to right-center.

Lenyn Sosa also went deep for the White Sox as his homer to lead off the third inning extended their lead to 7-1.

Rookie Jonathan Cannon (4-10) went 6 2/3 innings and picked up his second win in three September starts. The right-hander tied a season-high with seven strikeouts and allowed four runs and three hits.

The Angels have dropped six straight despite Eric Wagaman’s first big-league homer. Charles Leblanc also had a solo shot.

Los Angeles' 90th loss came in its 150th game, the quickest it has reached that mark in franchise history.

With 10 straight losing seasons, the Angels are trying to avoid having the most losses in franchise history in Ron Washington’s first year as manager. The record is 95, set in 1968 and 1980.

“You could see the body language out there. He didn’t have the feel for things he wanted to do, and when it didn’t happen, he didn’t stay focused and tried to make it happen. It look like he just gave into it,” said Washington about Detmers, who allowed seven runs in 5 1/3 innings.

TRAINER'S ROOM

White Sox: 3B Yoán Moncada was activated off the 60-day injured list. He had been on the IL since April 10 because of a left adductor strain.

Angels: CF Mike Trout (left knee) said he would consider a position change next season. ... 2B Michael Stefanic (right calf tightness), 2B Brandon Drury (left hamstring tightness) and OF Mickey Moniak (left hand) were not in the lineup.

UP NEXT

White Sox RHP Davis Martin (0-4, 4.14 ERA) makes his ninth start and 10th appearance of the season. Angels RHP Griffin Canning (5-13, 5.35 ERA) looks to bounce back after allowing 10 runs (nine earned) in 5 2/3 innings on Sept. 10 at Minnesota.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Chicago White Sox catcher Chuckie Robinson, left, and relief pitcher Justin Anderson congratulate each other after the White Sox defeated the Los Angeles Angels 8-4 in a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Angels right fielder Gustavo Campero makes a catch on a ball hit by Chicago White Sox's Andrew Vaughn during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Chicago White Sox's Andrew Vaughn is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Reid Detmers throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Jonathan Cannon throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Chicago White Sox second baseman Jacob Amaya fields a ball hit by Los Angeles Angels' Jordyn Adams during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. Adams was thrown out at first on the play. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Chicago White Sox's Andrew Vaughn walks into the dugout after the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Chicago White Sox's Jacob Amaya, below, scores on a single by Luis Robert Jr. as Los Angeles Angels catcher Matt Thaiss stands at the plate during the second inning of a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Chicago White Sox's Andrew Benintendi hits a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Chicago White Sox's Andrew Benintendi, right, is congratulated by Luis Robert Jr. after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Chicago White Sox right fielder Zach DeLoach makes a catch on a ball hit by Los Angeles Angels' Charles Leblanc to end their baseball game, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)