RIO DE JANEIRO -- By now you've heard about the green diving pool at the Olympics.
If not, quick background: the diving pool in Rio turned green because of algae proliferation.
For the longest time, officials in Rio did not know why. Wednesday, after the water polo pool also turned green, Rio officials claimed they had figured out the issue and that the water would be back to its normal color by the end of the day.
Two days later, that hasn't happened.
On Friday, Rio officials finally closed the pool because not only was the color still green, but athletes were complaining about the smell of the pool. One German athlete even said it smelt like "farts," according to an Australian reporter.
The Olympic diving pool has been closed again because of water quality issues...a German diver says "the whole building smells like a fart"
— Tom Steinfort (@tomsteinfort) August 12, 2016
Diving pool is closed this morning. Hopefully that means we haven't been diving in anything too bad the last couple of days! 😷😷😷
— Tom Daley (@TomDaley1994) August 12, 2016
Short interlude from track cycling action to record this news... https://t.co/KGaIKX5cc0
— Owen Gibson (@owen_g) August 12, 2016
German Olympic diver Patrick Hausding had some fun on Instagram posting pictures of the smelly pool and a photoshopped (at least we hope it is) picture of him turning green after being in the pool.
Good morning from the green lake! The pool is CLOSED! #goodmorning #olympics #green
A photo posted by Patrick Hausding (@patrick_hausding1) on
#adaption #anpassung #hulk #shrek #green #olympics #nofilter #wirfuerd
A photo posted by Patrick Hausding (@patrick_hausding1) on
Rio 2016 spokesman Philip Wilkinson released a statement Friday, and it makes no mention of the smell.
"We confirm that diving training in Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre pool is canceled this morning," Wilkinson said. "The reason is that the water must be still so the pool can return to its blue color as soon as possible."
Wilkinson said any athletes' eyes becoming itchy after swimming in the pool was because of what they were doing to try and restore the pool's coloring.
The pool re-opened Friday, and events will continue as scheduled. The pool still has a green tint, but it is not nearly as bad.
