Fans convinced Serena Williams was ‘about to puke’ after bumpy boat ride on Seine carrying Olympic torch for Paris 2024
The condition of the river itself has been heaped in controversy
PARIS 2024 viewers were worried Serena Williams was going to PUKE as she rode down the River Seine as a torch bearer for the opening ceremony.
The Tennis ace was on torch duties in the driving rain alongside Rafael Nadal, nine-time Olympic gold medallist Carl Lewis, and former Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci.
But with torrential downpours, comes choppy waves.
The boat – part of the epic four-hour ceremony centred around the French capital’s river – was travelling at some speed, enough to get Nadal fretting that the flame might go out.
While the rest of the legendary group looked lost their footing multiple times as they fought to stay put on the boat.
Williams, 42, seemed to have been enjoying the ride before a sudden change in form.
As the American star waved to fans while standing in her life vest, she needed to quickly grab onto Comaneci to keep steady.
23-time Grand Slam winner, not to mention four-time Olympic gold medallist, Williams then covered her month with her hand before putting her arms out for balance.
And eagle-eyed fans were left convinced of her sea-sickness.
One user wrote on X: “Serena Williams is soooo about to throw up!”
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A second said: “We almost just had Serena Williams puke GIF on the boat at the opening ceremony.”
A third chimed in: “Serena is either going to fall in or be sick.”
While another wrote: “Imagine if the boat jerks and they fall into the water.”
And what a travesty that would be – as the River Seine has been hit with a pollution scandal.
What's happening today at The Games?
WHAT TO WATCH TODAY...
THE PARIS 2024 Olympics started with a stunning Opening Ceremony – and now the Games really do begin.
SunSport brings you all the action taking place in the French capital on a thrilling first full day.
Josh Tarling and Anna Henderson are both in road cycling time trial action along the streets of Paris (from 1.30pm), leading today’s Brit medal hopes.
Michael Bargeron and Seonaid McIntosh team up in the 10m mixed shooting trying to win the first gold of the 2024 Games (10am).
In diving, 3m synchro pair Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jensen could medal (10am).
And Team GB expect a medal from their swimmers in both of the 4x100m freestyle relays (8.30pm).
While three-time Olympic gold medallist Adam Peaty begins his quest for 100m breaststroke glory (heat 10.30am, semi-final 8.15pm).
And Max Whitlock is eyeing a pommel horse medal for a fourth Games in a row as gymnastics qualifying gets underway (10am).
Click here for all the events taking place at Paris 2024 today.
Follow all the action as it unfolds with our Paris 2024 Olympics LIVE blog.
The French river, which has historically been polluted with chemicals, garbage, and human waste.
The Seine’s condition has been a focal point of the city and government’s efforts, as they invested over 1.4billion euros into a new sewage system.
The river is slated to be home to several events during the Games, including marathon swimming and the swimming legs of the Olympic and Paralympic triathlons.
Yet, the most recent tests have still shown that troubling levels of bacteria like E. coli. remain present in the water.
