American sailor helps clean toxic bay set for use in Olympics

From bleach to waterproof suits, competitors are trying everything to protect themselves from as much contact with the water at Guanabara Bay; water that has been deemed “toxic” and may contain super bacteria. One American sailor is trying his best to protect everyone else.

Brad Funk, a native of Clearwater, Fla., took it upon himself to clear as much debris as possible before the Olympic events are set to take place in the bay. Using a plastic bin to scoop trash from the water, Funk is hoping to prevent teams from being slowed down by the garbage.

“I love Rio, and it is very important to me that the Olympic Games is a success and the trash does not get stuck on the sailboats, taking medals away from them,” Funk told Reuters.

Surely, he’s just cleaning up the bay to make sure that he has the competitive advantage for his team to win, right?

Not even close.

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Funk failed to qualify for the 2016 Games in the two-man 49er sailing class event. Still, he traveled to Rio to lead to his own clean-up effort to help athletes who will be competing in the sailing, windsurfing and long-distance swimming events that will occur in Guanabara Bay, which is backed up by sewage from some nine million people.

“I decided that if I am not going to compete, I want the sailors to not have problems when they sail,” he said.

Although it isn’t a completely selfless venture. Funk is dating British windsurfer Bryony Shaw, who will be competing in the windsurfing event at Rio.

Step aside Meat Loaf, this is guy will actually do anything for love.

Guanabara Bay’s reputation has preceded itself ahead of the Olympic Games. Images of floating garbage and dead fish have been used consistently in stories involving the bay, which will be a venue for a number of the Olympic events.

The American sailor joins an effort led by the State Environmental Agency (Inea) to clean up the trash infested waters. Inea launched 12 boats with metal wired scoops on the bow to help clear the trash. They also placed floating 17 eco-barriers at the mouth of the bay and canals leading into the bay, resulting in the removal of 208 tons of floating garbage.

While the bay has been deemed safe and significantly cleared of debris, there is still significant work that still needs to be done to clear the bay completely. Fortunately for Rio, Funk doing his part to help the Olympics run smoothly – one plastic bin at a time.