The toxicity levels and pollution of Rio De Janeiro’s Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas has been a major concern leading up to the Rio Olympics because, well, Olympic rowers are expected to compete in that water.
It’s one of the many issues about these Games, but with Opening Ceremony on Aug. 5, athletes are coming to terms with the fact that they will have to row and compete through less-than-safe conditions.
In an essay for The Guardian, U.S. Olympic rower Megan Kalmoe addressed the water concerns head on, and she didn’t mince words.
Kalmoe wrote:
I will row through shit for you, America.