Report: Olympic kayaker capsizes after hitting a sofa

In this June 1, 2015 file photo, a discarded sofa litters the shore of Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In this June 1, 2015 file photo, a discarded sofa litters the shore of Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo: Silvia Izquierdo, Associated Press Photo: Silvia Izquierdo, Associated Press Image 1 of / 32 Caption Close Report: Olympic kayaker capsizes after hitting a sofa 1 / 32 Back to Gallery

Pollutants may not be the only thing that get you in Rio's waters.

A Sky News reporter tweeted that an Olympic kayaker on a practice run capsized after hitting a sofa. The Olympic organizers are currently investigating.

Hearing an Olympic kayaker may have capsized after hitting a submerged sofa. Story of day & possibly the week if true. #kayaksofa #Rio2016 — Paul Kelso (@pkelso) August 5, 2016

It would hardly be a shocker if someone did encounter a rogue sofa. Photos of Guanabara Bay in the run-up to the Olympics showed all manner of trash and furniture in the waters.

MORE: Rio's waters so full of human sewage, athletes will be swimming in literal crap

In fact, it's not the sofas that are the real hazard. The water quality in Rio is so poor that scientists recommended athletes keep their mouths closed to avoid ingesting it.

An AP article from last week reported:

[A] survey of the aquatic Olympic and Paralympic venues has revealed consistent and dangerously high levels of viruses from the pollution, a major black eye on Rio's Olympic project that has set off alarm bells among sailors, rowers and open-water swimmers. In light of the findings, biomedical expert Valerie Harwood had one piece of advice for travelers to Rio: "Don't put your head under water."

The kayak prelims take place on Sunday, so we'll keep you updated on any further furniture encounters.