Rio Olympics: German sailor gets sick from polluted water

A German sailor has fallen ill and is getting daily hospital treatment for several infections after competing in polluted water at a test event for next year's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

A post on the German sailing team's Olympic blog says Erik Heil was told by the Berlin hospital treating him that he was the victim of multi-resistant germs. He's getting daily treatment with antibiotics.

"You can imagine how painful it is," Heil said on the blog.

Heil finished third with partner Thomas Ploessel in the 49er class at the competition in Rio earlier this month.

Rio's polluted waterways have been in the spotlight since The Associated Press released an independent study on July 30 showing high levels of viruses from human sewage at all Rio Olympic water venues.

The International Olympic Committee and local organizers have declined to test for viruses, arguing the World Health Organization requires only bacterial testing and lacks a standard for viruses.

A publicist for Heil, Sophie-Karolin Wehner, said he was too tired from the treatment to be interviewed.

Heil said in the blog post he and Ploessel are considering whether to use plastic overalls to sail out of the marina before putting on their normal neoprene shoes in the open water.

Heil also called for a doctor to be with the team at all future sailing events in Rio.